Members of the Worcester public schools crew team have performed admirably over the past few years, even though they've been competing in “ancient” shells that have seen better times.

While their nearest rivals across Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury have had the luxury of racing in much newer and sleeker boats thanks to local benefactors, the 80 or so high school students in the Worcester program have done very well competing with the shells that have been basically “cobbled together” by long-time coach Richard Stavros.

The team's immediate future, however, looks bleak after five of its shells were heavily damaged in a road accident yesterday afternoon in Mashpee.

The team had just finished competing in the Cape Cod Rowing Invitational and was headed home when the trailer carrying the shells couldn't make a turn and crashed into a tree.

A sixth boat, which still remained covered up last night and had not been inspected, might also have been damaged.

“The roads in that area are awfully narrow and the driver just couldn't make the turn,” said Mr. Stavros. He said the accident occurred a short distance from John's Pond, where the competition took place.

The team, which had also competed on Saturday at the Lowell Invitational Regatta, has a total of 15 boats but some of them are used for parts and are not used in competition.

Mr. Stavros, who has coached the team for 15 years, said he believes he has enough equipment for the team to compete in smaller events scheduled the next two weekends.

But he might not have enough for his charges to take part in the state finals, which will be held later in the month in Lowell.

City of Worcester departments are self-insured under an umbrella municipal plan but the damage is not expected to be covered fully. There's also a small, separate insurance plan that's funded by parents.

“Even if the money was available, we'd need time to fix the boats,” said the coach.

A new shell costs from $28,000 to $35,000 and there's just enough money from the School Department budget this year to keep the crew team afloat, given the city's tight financial situation.

Three of the damaged boats were eight-seaters that run about 60 feet long. The two others were about 41 to 42 feet long, with seating four competitors.

The damaged boats, along with two double-seaters, formed the core of the Worcester crew's fleet.

Mr. Stavros, who coached the Worcester State College squad for 10 years, said he's hoping to get some help from other rowing teams in the area.

The Lake Quinsigamond Community Rowing group, for example, has already pledged to lend equipment.

Despite the crash, there was some good news.

Two of the four-seat varsity teams from Worcester placed first in separate events.

“This is really a great program for the kids,” said Mr. Stavros. Many of the students on the team are from Doherty Memorial High School and Worcester Vocational High School, he said.

He said that, over his tenure, all but two Worcester students taking part in crew went on to college, many thanks to generous scholarships. He said the two students that did not opt for college joined the armed forces.

Mr. Stavros said that former Worcester rowers have gone on to prestigious schools such as Harvard, Princeton and Northwestern universities. Many of them, he said, compete on the collegiate level.

The Cape Cod Invitational drew about 600 athletes.