“It’s all about creating a vacuum in the bottle.”
The preparations for the Regatta are already well under way. The invited social associations have been training flat out since before Christmas. Omnibus slipped into its training outfit together with the Economic Association (EA) (from the department of economics and business) and Humbug (the humanists social association). For the associations the Regatta is much more than a spring day in the University Park. Most important of all is having a nice time and friendship, even though a victory does no harm.
On one of the first spring days in March, Humbug is ”training” in the University Park.
”For us, the keyword is having a good time,” says the chairman Theis while enjoying a lukewarm Tuborg beer.
”In our association there is room for everyone.” He tells us that the association’s goal is to win their heat.
“Of course we’re going to win - I’ll put a 1,000 kroner on EA,” says the vice-chair Andreas.
On the day of our visit they are practising in the Andegården courtyard at Fuglesangs Allé.
Today they are focused on drinking a beer in the shortest possible time and then spinning around the bottle ten times.
The Regatta has many rules and is very much a question of technique.
“When you spin around the bottle it must always be between your legs and max. 10 cm above the ground”, says Maria, who is responsible for the members being able to master this discipline by 9 May.
“It’s all about creating a vacuum in the bottle so there is plenty of froth. Once you’ve emptied it the beer dregs mustn’t be above the bottom of the label on the bottle. But the amount of froth doesn’t matter,” adds the chairman Martin.
Drinking the beer and spinning around the bottle should take around 12 seconds.
At the Regatta itself there is a dogged battle between the associations.
But in the months leading up to the Regatta there is a fellowship between the associations. They train together, hold parties and have joint barbecues in the park.
The social aspect is really unique and in the end it is the most important element. ”Maybe it’s not the best thing for your CV but you learn a lot about yourself and cooperation in associations,” adds Andreas.
On the water it is important to be able to sail straight and fast and to get out of the boat with the help of a so-called ‘boating-friend.’
After each spin around the bottle someone shouts “Find the boat.”
Even though it can be difficult to keep your footing, the team loses time if the participant does not quickly get back to the boat.
A good lap takes about 40 seconds - across the lake, drink the beer, spin around the bottle ten times and back to the boat again.
Fotos: Maria Randima
The participating associations are:
- Umbilicus (The Medicine students association)
- Economic Association (EA)
- Juridisk Selskab (Legal Society)
- Politologisk Forening (Politological Society)
- Kein Cortex/Fuld Fontex (The psychology association)
- FUT (The engineering students social association)
- Idræt (The Sport Science association)
- Svederen (The teacher education association)
- TÅGEKAMMERET (The Science and Technology association)
- Apollonia (The odontological association)
- Siffos (The Public Health association)
- Humbug (The Arts/humanists association)
- Ambrosia (dommere) (the judges)
Translated by Peter Lambourne