Patrick (Paddy) Ryan, the coach of the Cambridge University women’s eight that last April set the new record of the Boat Race (18.23) on Thames in London from Putney to Mortlake on a Filippi F42 visited our boatyard in view of the challenges of the new season.
Patrick Ryan with David Filippi
Patrick Ryan grew up in Adelaide (South Australia), at the local High School, is currently coaching women’s Cambridge team from 2018-2019 season, taking over his predecessor and mentor Rob Baker’s legacy. Getting the opportunity to use for the first time in his career a latest generation Filippi F42, equipped with Aliante carbon riggers, he admitted that he was blown away by the Fiilippi’s enthusiasm which invested on this project and by the solidity of the product, subjected to the pitfalls of the Thames and competitors.
However, there was a series of favorable conditions that got him and his crew to the aforementioned achievement. Above all, 3 years of work with a crew that Ryan defined as "phenomenal", adding that he sensed that everything would go well.
We knew that we would have come out on top
This year Patrick will start again with a practically brand new crew and the appointment is with the internal trial next December 12th. From here on, the choices will mature for the line-up to be opposed to Oxford in the traditional challenge that in 2023 will coincide with March 26th.
On the new boat we will hardly find New Zealander Grace Prendergast who recently left competitive rowing, and whose "humility and curiosity" are very much appreciated by the Australian coach. He also emphasizes her being one of the fastest women in the world on a rowing boat…
Listen to this audio of Patrick Ryan's words about his relationship with Filippi boats and with Grace Prendergast, who is still in London and who is invited at a table talk about her future. “I can't see Grace away from the world of sports” said Patrick…
Grace Prendergast at the 76th women's Boat Race
Listen what Patrick said in his interview with Filippi:
