Ledyard — The painted rock in Bartlett Cove is a constant reminder of the last year's victor.

Defending champion Yale certainly enjoys the view during training sessions on the Thames River.

Harvard? Not so much.

Members of Yale's first varsity boat brushed on the blue paint last year and recently completed the job after arriving at their Gales Ferry home to prepare for the 151st Harvard-Yale Regatta, the nation's oldest collegiate sporting event, on Sunday afternoon. Competition begins at 2:45 p.m. with the third varsity race.

"We won last year obviously for the first time in a long time," Yale captain Hubert Trzybinski said. "It was a really great feeling just going over to the rock with all the guys and painting it blue. Then we came back to (Gales) Ferry this year and finished the paint job and put the white Y on. That was just a cool feeling and just a great team building experience."

"Of course, we want to keep the rock blue and want to have a very successful race this year, hopefully next year and the years to come. It definitely encourages you to be faster."

As far as Yale is concerned, the new paint job was long overdue. The rock featured Harvard colors for seven straight years, the length of the Crimson's winning streak prior to losing in 2015. Harvard leads the series 95-55 overall.

The Bulldogs are favored to win the upstream four-mile race (the varsity race will begin at 4:30 p.m. from beneath the Gold Star Bridge), attempting to repeat for the first time since capturing four straight from 1981-84. They've experienced a nearly perfect season, going undefeated until finishing second in the IRA National Championships in New Jersey earlier this month. Harvard took fifth.

But the Crimson won't let their unfamiliar underdog status adversely affect them on race day.

"It's important to recognize it but not let that change what you're trying to do," Harvard captain James Croxford said. "Regardless of the speed of the Yale crew, it doesn't change that on race day we're just going to turn up and try to go as fast as we possibly can from point A to point B."

The Harvard-Yale Regatta is a different race than any other with the longer four-mile distance. It presents a whole new challenge and requires more efficiency.

Both Ivy League programs incorporate the longer distances into training throughout the season prior to arriving in Gales Ferry.

"With this increased distance, you obviously have to be mentally tough as well as physically tough," said Yale senior Chris Carothers. "I think it's something this crew loves. We love to get after it every day and work hard. We have tons of endurance. The distance is not an issue for us."

Past results can be thrown out. Last year's race proved that.

Yale won the regatta in a record-setting upstream time of 18 minutes, 35.8 seconds after finishing behind Harvard in the national championships.

"It's an entirely different event," said Yale coach Steve Gladstone, who's elevated the program in his tenure. "Rowing, you can't have a mistake and recover. You just don't. The rhythm is broken. This is 20 minutes, and it has to be flawless. It's a big challenge, to say nothing of the mental piece."

Yale has basically the same varsity eight lineup as last season. Trzybinski and Carothers are the only two seniors.

Harvard's varsity boat also is relatively young, with only one senior. Coach Charley Butt believes the Crimson made strides since the national championship race a few weeks ago. He's switched two rowers in the boat, moving Ross Jarvis to the stroke position.

"We've regrouped," Butt said. "The students and the coaching staff all have been working hard. And we have a new combination that we've been testing within the boat for the weekend. ... We're determined to make sure that every boat is at its best this Sunday."

"... I think we're going to make it interesting."

If Harvard needs any extra motivation, it can draw inspiration from seeing the Yale colors on the rock.

"It's constant reminder of what we're trying to achieve, really," Croxford said.

g.keefe@theday.com