Bridport Regatta

02 Jul Bridport Regatta

Well this was slightly different from our normal regattas.  On this occasion we were unable to raise enough chaps for a men’s crew.  Unfortunately holidays and summer commitments had taken their toll and whilst we didn’t have enough for a men’s crew we were able to get a girls crew together.

Bridport had races for ladies A, B and C.  We decided to enter our crew for the ladies A and also for the ladies vets race.  Our girls were Nina, Terrey, Debs, Sophie, Leiza and Jane.  They were coxed by Steve.  This was to be Jane’s first competitive race and also her first time rowing in the sea….a baptism of fire indeed.

It’s an early start for Bridport as gigs need to arrive by 8:30am.  Terrey was on a debut too for towing our lovely Avona.  This meant an 0545 meet to get her hitched up and on the road by 0600.  All went well and we were hitting the M5 with coffee on board right in time.  A dream of a journey saw us on the slipway by 8am.  Terrey and Steve with the help of some lovely friendly people from Bridport saw Avona launched from the slipway well before 0830.

We had time for lots of chats, cake and tea before we were up for the big Ladies A race which was to follow the ladies B and C races.

Having got out nice and early we could feel the sea properly.  Jane felt the Bridport swell and had her first experience with slightly bumpy water.  A quality racing start saw us half way to Calais so we turned back and pootled back to the start line area.

Before long we were under starters orders for the Ladies A race and we were off.  A great start left us in contention with the very competitive field. After a few minutes the main field edged away from us by a slight margin and found ourselves just behind Keith Owen, the Sidmouth boat.  Steve called for a big 20 half way down the first straight and the crew responded.  We started to catch Keith Owen.  Literally inch by inch we pulled her back.  After only a short rest another big 20 was called and again we started to go up on our nearest competitor.  Debs was heard to say “its working” and sure enough it was.  Jane was getting some tips from Steve and she pulled things together.  With all 6 crew members pulling as a team we edged our way up on Keith Owen to get water by the first left hand mark.  What an effort to that point.  This was a first class field and we were actually racing with another crew at close quarters.  We took a couple of lengths out of Keith Owen on each turn and continued to push her away through the rest of the race.  In the end our girls came 8th from 9.  That’s a great effort in a very competitive field.

A small break allowed for ice cream whilst sat on the wall and a chat to Debs Mum and Dad who had come to watch us for the day.

Then our next race beckoned, the Ladies Vets.  Sophie had to return home early due to work commitments so we borrowed one of the Bridport girls.  Once again right from the start we got a flyer.  We remained right amongst the field all the way to the first mark with the girls responding brilliantly on each call for a little more.  It’s great when there are so many boats around.  The noise of water, oars against pins, coxes doing their thing is just spine tingling.  On the first turn we needed to go around tight.  Jane obliged from seat1 by catching a crab, rescued it brilliantly and immediately on putting it in the water again caught another crab. We went around the buoy superbly.  The girls continued to row fantastically and finished 8th from 14.  A great result.

Since we had no more races without the men attending we were able to get Avona out of the water early.  Some very efficient dressing of her allowed us to get to the pub for a well earned drink before heading home.

The sun stayed out all day and some red faces headed back to the West Country.  Many thanks to Terrey for towing and Debs for organising the day.