Rain made an inauspicious start to the regatta. (inauspicious: unpromising, unfavorable, unpropitious) The coxswain's indecisiveness made it worse. (indecisiveness: indecision, irresolution, hesitation) A crew cannot vacillate about which stroke comes next, but her every instruction invited a second one. (vacillate: waver, hesitate, oscillate) By the jetty her indecision had cost them a full length. (indecision: irresolution, uncertainty, hesitation)
The substitute noticed that her vacillation began whenever the coach spoke from shore. (vacillation: wavering, indecision, hesitation) His commands, though well meant, were detrimental to a crew already following a different beat. (detrimental: harmful, damaging, injurious) The coxswain asked him to stay quiet. (stay: remain, keep, continue to be) It took an unwavering voice to make that request while pulling away. (unwavering: steadfast, resolute, firm)
The crew found its rhythm. Their rivals had an insurmountable lead, but a second crew lent its stopwatch. (insurmountable: insuperable, unconquerable, overwhelming) At the sixth stroke they were moving faster than at any point that year. The coach asked if he could keep the time next week.