NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Although winter is reluctantly giving way to spring on the banks of the Housatonic, the Yale lightweights at Gilder Boathouse in Derby, Conn., find reassurance knowing that their 2023 racing season is fast approaching.

"We've had a productive winter training period, and the team is starting to make some progress on the water," said Y150 Alumni Head Coach of Lightweight Crew Andrew Card. "There is a lot of work ahead of us and the guys are eager to get after it."

The Yale lightweight squad will once again be one of the largest lightweight crews in the country, consisting of 43 oarsmen and six coxswains. The squad embodies both experienced rowers and newcomers, who have relied on the mentorship and guidance of captain Jamie Patterson and his fellow senior class.

"This squad has demonstrated resilience and adaptability with each challenge thrown our way this year, and we cannot wait to show off what we've learned," said Patterson. "It will be great to put our work to the test and go as fast as we can."

Yale will begin their regular season campaign on Saturday, Apr. 1 against the United States Naval Academy. While the two squads have traditionally competed at the neutral site of Mercer County Park, this year they will instead race at Lake Carnegie in Princeton, N.J.  At stake for the EARC rivals are the Johnson Cup in the 1V and the overall regatta championship cup named in honor of Yale lightweight oarsman and former Navy lightweight coach Jon Van Amringe.

After the neutral site regatta, Yale will return to Derby for a three-week homestand, opening against the Hoyas of Georgetown on Apr. 8. During the following week, the Bulldogs will kick off their Ivy League racing schedule with the Dodge Cup against Columbia and Penn. Racing at Derby will conclude with the Durand Cup against Dartmouth on Apr. 22.

In the final week of the regular season, Yale will travel up to Boston and take on Harvard and Princeton for the Goldthwait and Vogel Cups on Apr. 29, extending the longtime rivalry into its second century since the HYP was first held back in 1922.

Here is the 2023 Yale lightweight crew schedule:
April 1: Johnson Cup & Van Amringe Cup - United States Naval Academy (Princeton, N.J.)
April 8: Georgetown University (Derby, Conn./Gilder Boathouse)
April 15: Dodge Cup - University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University (Derby, Conn./Gilder Boathouse)
April 22: Durand Cup - Dartmouth College (Derby, Conn./Gilder Boathouse)
April 29: Goldthwait Cup & Vogel Cup - Princeton University, Harvard University (Boston, Mass.)
May 14: EARC Sprints (Worcester, Mass.)
June 2-4: IRA National Championships (West Windsor, N.J.)