Brown recounts his meeting with Joe Rantz, an elderly man who was part of the American rowing team that won gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Brown describes Rantz as a man who overcame significant hardships in his life, and who became emotional when discussing his rowing experiences. As Rantz talked about rowing, Brown initially misunderstood Rantz’s repeated references to “the boat,” but eventually realized that Rantz was describing something more than just the physical vessel or his teammates. For Rantz, “the boat” represented a profound, collective experience that had a lasting impact on his life. Brown concludes by expressing his intention to write Rantz’s story, with Rantz insisting that the narrative should focus not just on him, but on “the boat.”

Brown opens the chapter at the University of Washington in 1933. Two tall and athletic freshmen, Roger Morris and Joe Rantz, hurried across campus on a sunny October afternoon to try out for the freshman rowing team. Brown describes the bustling university setting and the boys’ walk to an old airplane hangar by Lake Washington, which served as the rowing team’s base.

Brown highlights the two boys’ backgrounds, noting that while many of the aspiring rowers came from wealthy families, Joe stood out due to his modest upbringing and financial struggles.