| Several years ago, when Pocock
Racing Shells designed its new line of Hypercarbon™
winged boats, the company also unveiled
a new “chevron” logo. The idea
for this new logo, which fittingly symbolizes
speed and victory, actually came from an
old rowing tradition of placing a chevron
mark on the bow of a boat every time it
won a race.
This tradition was born back in the late
1930s when Pocock Racing Shells founder
George Pocock and University of Washington
crew coach Al Ulbrickson came up with
the idea of placing a mark on the bow
of the boats whenever a crew won a race.
"George thought a notch mark would
work, but Al thought a chevron mark would
work even better," said George's
son, Stan Pocock.
In those days, the University of Washington's
crews - rowing in Pocock shells - were
winning many of their races. It wasn't
long before most of the shells in the
Washington boathouse had at least one
chevron on its bow. Many of the shells
had four, five and even six chevrons,
placed in a row after the boat's name.
George Pocock at the University
of Washington's shellhouse.
"Washington is the only place that
I have ever seen anything like this done,"
said Stan. "There wasn't a ceremony
or anything; one of us from the shop would
just stencil on the chevrons."
Several different colors were used for
the chevrons depending on the race and
the opponents. Red, white and blue chevrons
were placed on the two Washington boats
that won at the Olympics, the Husky Clipper
(Berlin, 1936) and the Husky Clipper Too
(London, 1948).
With Pocock boats winning so many races
and as part of the celebration of our
coming centennial, Pocock Racing Shells
has rekindled this special chevron
tradition. All men’s and women’s
crews - high school, college and masters
- are invited to participate. Each time
your crew wins an important race, place
a chevron decal on the bow of your winning
Pocock boat.
"The competition is so much tougher
now than back then," said Stan Pocock. "The
chevrons would be even more meaningful
today."
Email us and
we'll send you a set of free chevron decals
to mark your hard earned victories in
Pocock shells.
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