Friday, 15 November 2013

Saturn V

Within any University there is an interest in getting as many students as possible involved in Clubs and Societies, this is sound when one considers:
1. The declining state of health of us- The radio told me this week that 66% of adults in Ireland are overweight and that 20% of them don't realise it.
2. There are more and more graduates looking for jobs so having that extra string to your bow is an important feature going into the job market.
Certainly UCC is obsessed with numbers of clubs (60+) and numbers of students doing stuff.

However...

When attempting to build a rowing programme with performance levels comparable with those in the UK and further afield maybe the Saturn V approach is the key.

The Saturn V launched all 6 successful Moon landing missions in the 1960's and 1970's and also the failed Apollo 13 mission. It was a massive multistage rocket that stood nearly 400ft. It took years to design and construct. It developed over  7 million pounds of thrust. It was and still is one of the largest and most complicated pieces of kit ever to be made by man. 

What's all this got to do with a tiny rowing club in Ireland?
  • Massive investment in time, money and so much more, for a small number of incredibly well trained individuals to do some remarkable things.
  • It was manned by some of the best trained, talented and skilled humans that could be found.
  • It's success made for one of the 20th centuries most memorable moments - especially delightful when you think most of the others involve man killing man. I am not suggesting that UCCRC will create one of the most memorable moments of the 21st century for the World, but there is certainly the opportunity for individuals to make history for this tiny programme and the College.
  • The massive majority of it was dedicated to fueling the blast out of Earth's gravitational pull, the rowing equivalent is required to get away from the gravitational pull of mediocrity.
  • Many people didn't think what was achieved was achievable.
  • It is huge and powerful but in every element there is an attention to detail
And... this analogy does make me Wernher von Braun...

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