The Eddystone Challenge.
On September 27th 2003 the
Mayflower Offshore Rowing Club (MORC) has challenged sea-rowing
crews to race from Plymouth to the Eddystone Lighthouse and
back, a distance of 40 kilometres.
The event was held for the first time in September 2002 and
was won in a time of 6 hours 27 minutes despite adverse Force
6 weather conditions. Only one crew were able to complete the
challenge, and the victorious crew are inviting crews from all
the other British sea rowing clubs to attempt the Challenge
again in 2004 (news update soon).
Mayflower is a newly formed
club, which aims to encourage new rowers into the sport, and
will row from the Mount Batten Centre in Plymouth Sound. Sea
rowing is a new sport in Britain, although it is widely pursued
in France. The French national squad train in sea boats in
the winter, as they combine the sea-worthiness of a gig with
the light weight and rowing action of a flat water racing
shell. To date there are five clubs in England and Wales,
and this number is sure to rise as more people experience
the joy of rowing in these boats.
MORC plan to expand this event
to become an international event in the rowing calendar, and
a major event in Plymouth. However, the club chairman, Tony
Lovering is keen to emphasize that it is not a sport for masochists,
and most rowing will be much less energetic! The club aims to
encourage recreational rowers, as well as the experienced river
rower wanting to try a new discipline.
The club possesses two boats
already and it will soon announce the inaugural launch date,
at which stage all newcomers will be welcome to try the sport.
