2003

Round the island charity row

The rowing crew of this adventure were:

Bow Bill Shaw, 2.Jon Ellis 3. myself, stroke, Chris Arnell, cox Jonathan Arnell.

One safety boat boat was manned by members of Chris' family and the other was Kevin Brown (son of Alan in whose memory we did the row) and his friends.

2.00am

The alarm clock goes off - it seems as if I've only just gone to sleep! Now, just how many carbohydrates can I cram into one breakfast.

4.00am

Just enough light on Lymington quay to rig up the boat, load it up with water, isotonic drinks, High5 carbohydrate drink, sunglasses, sun cream sun hats etc., etc., etc...Mobile phone is preprogrammed with various messages to update those back in Christchurch.

4.30am

We're afloat, remembered to dry our feet before putting on socks and trainers - don't want to row all that way with wet feet do we!

5.00am

At the Royal Lymington Yacht Club starting tower and the row begins in earnest. We set off westward towards Hurst point and the Needles. Oh no, the yacht we're using as back-up boat can't keep up (although funnily enough it didn't seem to have so much of a problem seven or eight hours later through the Solent). Kevin Brown's RIB has no such problems though.

"Are we there yet?" "no",

"Are we there yet?" "No",

"Are we there yet?" "NO!"

6.00am

We've reached the Needles spot on target - slack tide, good timings Chris! The first major comfort stop. The three of us try out papier-mâché urine bottles courtesy of Christine and Royal Bournemouth Hospital (will papier-mâché really last 10 hours in the bottom of a boat?). Bill can't be bothered with all that and just goes over the side! First text message sent "We have just passed the Needles"

8.15am

South side of the Island, the English Channel, and we didn't realise it would be so calm. Good strong tide running under us.

8.30am

St. Catherine's Point - looks rough ahead, better open the bailers and tap it through!

8.31am

Three strokes later and we've sunk! Expert work by Kevin and his men ensure that crew and cox are all recovered to the RIB, and the boat is bailed out. They have also collected most of the flotsam and jetsam. I didn't have this preprogrammed into my phone!! Not that it matters because the bl***y thing doesn't work now anyway.

9.00am

Underway again, going a bit faster to get rid of some more water through the bailers and to warm up. (What was I saying earlier about keeping my feet dry?) Good job it's cloudy because my sunglasses went down without trace. Even worse is my seat padding has gone too.

11.00am

At Ryde at last (was to be the second text message) after quite a pleasant row past Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown with water as flat as you’re ever likely to see. But of course we all know that it's "rough at the turns" at Ryde and today is no exception. Now we have to start dodging other boats including the odd ferry or hovercraft.

12.00pm

Coming to Cowes and just how much rougher can it get? I don't think even the Coast boys would be stupid enough to hold a regatta on this sort of water. We've got a strong tide back under us again and what seems like thousands of other boats all intent on washing us down, or are they just out enjoying a nice Sunday afternoon on the Solent? What is it they say about men with big boats trying to compensate for something? Anyway, as we move along the Solent towards home the water flattens off slightly, but now begins the longest two hours of my rowing career. My body tells me to stop, my mind tells me don't stop because it's too painful to start off again. At least Jon found my seat pad floating in the bottom of the boat - what a blessed relief.

"Are we there yet?" "*#@**$%*!!!!!"

2.00pm

Royal Lymington Yacht Club starting tower again T + 9 hours exactly. What utter and absolute relief. If only we didn't have to row up Lymington river back to the Quay. But we do and suddenly all the rhythm is back and the boat is running smoothly and easily.

2.30pm

Back at Lymington Quay being greeted with cheers and much clapping - it feels wonderful.

WE HAVE MADE IT. There is fantastic support, much more than we possibly could have expected. Thank you all that came.

Want some more... See the pre-race press release below…

 

**** PRESS RELEASE ****

Christchurch Rowing Club are to take on a marathon row around the Isle of Wight in aid of the MacMillan Cancer Trust at Christchurch.

Past & present members of Christchurch Rowing Club are planning to undertake an arduous row around the Isle of Wight next month. The crew of Chris Arnell, Steve Aldridge, Jon Ellis and Bill Shaw with coxswain Jonathan Arnell are taking on this marathon in memory of Alan Brown who had a successful rowing career at the club during the 1990's. Alan died of cancer last year and the crew are doing the row to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Trust.

They plan to set out at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday 1st June from Lymington to row the 55 mile trip around the Isle of Wight in a coastal four. They will go anti-clockwise around the Island - the traditional way for similar attempts.

The record time for a Round the Island row is 7 hours 57 minutes although this did not include crossing over from the mainland first! The Christchurch crew hope to complete the row in about 10 hours.

Further information from and/or pledges of support to Chris Arnell (row co-ordinator) on (01202) 381773 or Steve Aldridge (CRC Club Captain) on (01202) 484926.