28th September - .........and we're off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the day was finally upon - Sunday 28th September. After initially being pulled back to the start line by the Support Boat code named "LUCK", we managed to get out of the Dover Harbour Arms.

 The 1st Hour seemed to take forever, with choppy conditions causing no end of frustrations and making the zig-zag course we'd taken, seem like the journey was going to be twice as far.

The whole journey ran fairly smoothly and I think this was inspired by THE Dube and Saz making a fantastic apperance on the start line and bringing brown toast for us...

Also, for the crossing Maddie (Willems-Platt) and her esteemed partner in crime Jess (the Papz) Read AND Bob (the Knarly-coach) Salmon all made it across on the support boat and we're so thankful for their words of encouragement along the way - GREAT STUF!!!!

 So I'll let you see a load of photo's from the day, which speak louder than my words. The trip was challenging, we were prepared and success was the only option...delighted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER...

Our Beautiful "Spirit of St Leonards" (as named by our Corporate Sponsor Penn Elcom) is finally in the Club house from the River. It's an emotional moment for us:

 

 

2 Weeks Before the Row

The Platt family came to stay and watch the last 4 hour trainining session before the big day. Training went well, the weather was good. We  rowed close to 20 miles and apart from the damaged hands we came through well.

Soon our boat 'Spirit of St Leonards'  will join us in Hastings for the final training sessions.

Some Action shots of our "Lorraine" being launched off the Hastings Beach...another training session!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Hows the Training Going? - 11th August

The mostly commonly asked question: Hows the training going?

Well.....the answer at the moment is pretty poorly. The British Summer has provided us with some shocking weather again which has meant we've not been able to venture onto the sea for 2 weeks.

The September channel crossing is rapidly approaching (clench the buttocks!)

Below you can see the sea in August....shocking!!




Training in Rye

Below you can see the beautiful river we've been training on in Rye, East Sussex. The river goes almost 20 miles which has helped us replicate the channel but in much calmer conditions.




The Week of: 21st to 25th of July



We've had some cracking training this week. The weather has been shocking recently because its been so windy. This week is the first full week where we got on the sea every single day.

The technique is improving for both of us, but we're still miles away from being able to row 4 hours on the see. Lets hope the weather holds out for us.



Saturday 5th July

Henley Regatta

We spent the weekend at Henley regatta admiring how the professionals row. It was a great experience for us to watch how the pros row competitively. More importantly we got interviewed on 'Regatta Radio' in order to plug our channel crossing attempt and the Girls (you know who you are) helped us boost our fund raising total with some more sponsorship.

Saturday 14th June 2008

First 2 Hour Row

We completed our first 2 hour row on Rye river. Before our channel crossing in September we have to complete four 2 hour rows. This was one of them and we completed it without any major problems, except the boat is taking on water (not great).

Launching the boat at Rye involves some skilled launching and a pair of 'choice' wellies. Tom is kindly sporting the correct attire in this image.





Wednesday 11th June 2008

The boat has had its first outing. The first training session has taken place in 'number 24'. A quick drive with the oars to Rye river and we were set up.

Tues 27th May 2008

We're up a walking!

We have achieved our goal for May which was to launch and row by ourselves without assistance on the sea. No problems were experienced and we rowed pretty well. We've got alot of work to do, but it was a promising start.





Sat 17th May 2008  

With the help of our friend Russ we picked up the boat we will be crossing the Channel in. After some dangerous driving dragging a 24ft trailer across Kent we now have 'Number 24' moored in Rye. The boats a classic but its name is shocking. If you have any decent name suggestions for the crossing boat then please send them to us. We emphasise the word decent.



Tues 13 May 2008

We had our first training session in unfavourable weather. Windy, cold enough to freeze your bo*#!@ks off. It was a taster for how difficult coastal rowing can be if the conditions are not perfect.

Sun 11 May 2008


We managed to train on the sea for the 2nd time today.  Tom has now been in a boat 4 times and Rob 3. The concept is starting to make sense, but after rowing 1 mile and feeling tired the enormity of the crossing is starting to reveal itself.