HOST OF UNIVERSITIES TO DESCEND ON MISSION BAY FOR CREW CLASSIC The University of California, Berkeley’s formidable rowing crews hope to mount a successful defense on the sometimes-tricky waters of Mission Bay as a season-opening prescription for an eventual intercollegiate championship repeat. The Berkeley Bears’ heavyweight eight, who have been victors here for two straight years, will be tested by eight contenders Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 during the 38th annual San Diego Crew Classic.  Races along the 2,000-meter course are set to begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with finals starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday.    Stanford, Oregon State, Jacksonville Michigan, Bucknell, Temple, UC San Diego and Boston’s Northeastern will challenge for the men’s Copley Cup. Historically, Stanford has been one of Cal’s biggest rivals. The Cardinals won three straight cups from 2006-08, but placed sixth last year. Still, that’s only part of the strong-armed event that will involve 3,400 oarsmen in a variety of divisions, including junior and masters athletes. A total of 90 races, some across seven lanes, will begin at the Ingraham Street Bridge and finish at Crown Point Shores. The Huskies from the University of Washington elected not to stage a rematch here but have sent down the nation’s third-ranked women’s team.        California coach Mike Teti, a longtime fixture at the national level, said he has four oarsmen back from the boat that upset Washington in the 2010 season finale.       The Bears raced five eights in last year’s classic — one varsity, two junior varsity, two open eights and one freshman boat — and captured four  first-place finishes in the grand finals.  Opposing Washington for the women’s Jessop-Whittier Cup will be Cal Berkeley, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Wisconsin, Washington State, Iowa, Oregon State, Purdue, Oklahoma and the University of San Diego.  Stanford and Wisconsin were ranked fourth and eighth nationally last year. Martha Shumaker, executive director of the San Diego Crew Classic, admitted that Mission Bay’s wind-churned water can be challenging and is why the featured events begin so early.     “Crews are used to still, smooth surfaces, but teams have grown to appreciate the importance of competing in our event,” Shumaker said. “An ideal course is completely flat water, no wind, not tidal and where the bottom is the same depth. “Transportation can be costly (between $10,000 to $12,000), so some of the teams charter boats.  Others, like Oklahoma, will send a trailer out. We offer some incentive for them to come.” She said the universities enter because the Crew Classic has gained respect.  “We used to say it didn’t count for anything but bragging rights, Shumaker said. “But no more.” The Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) determines who to invite to the Crew Classic. Ticket prices are $7 each day. Admission is free for active-duty military with ID and children under age 13. Parking is $10 per car at Crown Point Shores but free at Ski Beach (off Ingraham Street and across from the entrance to Paradise Point Resort). There is also free shuttle service to the regatta. REGATTA FACTS • The Crew Classic will be streamed live to 80 countries and videotaped for broadcast on ESPNU • A new trophy, named for one-time San Diego State University crew coach Del Beekley, will be presented to the winner of the 43-49 age rowers • Cal Berkeley has won 16 IRA national titles • The master level (over age 21) is the fastest-growing segment of the sport • The event includes music, a trade show and alumni tents • Rowing is the oldest collegiate sport in the U.S., starting with the Yale-Harvard competition in 1852.