Great event though Caradon. Just make it a bit warmer next year please

Alarm set 4:00 am, meet 5am, temp -5c and the trailer lights not working – having anticipated problems and being good boy scouts as we all no doubt were, between us we had tools and bulbs to get the necessary done! (but note: Number plate light fitting beyond salvage methinks!)

Arrived at Caradon, Saltash, 8am as planned, to be greeted be a very efficient Caradon club, with members organising parking, trailers, launching etc. – very impressed! We were in the water, tied up round at the jetty, just minutes after arrival….

Plenty of time then for some early moring tea and bacon sarnies courtesy of our Chaueffer, Tim, and his camping stove, Cheers! – and a good job of towing too, I might add!

After watching the ladies racers fading into the distance at the top end and again downstream, we set off for a warm up – Although the sun shone all day (beautiful), it was bitterly cold with a biting wind.

A Hectic start to the Senior men’s race with so many boats, going off in 2 seperate fleets about 1 minute apart. We were in the 2nd phase (but actually managed to overtake 1 crew from the earlier start!). One cold, wet, windy, Very choppy, hour later we were sprinting (lol) for home. 34th out of 35 then, – so ‘Yes’, that was the only boat we passed.

Excuses corner: Between the 6 of us I think you could probably count the total number of races attened on the fingers of one hand. But the total number of ‘years’ in the boat must have been the highest, despite ‘baby’ Sarah in the boat. And, we did achieve our goal: ‘Don’t come last’.

A great effort from a hastily put together scratch crew, thanks folks:
Sarah: Honourary ‘Grumpy old man’ for the day, but not nearly grumpy enough, or old enough, to be a real Vet! – and if there is any blood in the boat, It’s Sarah’s! Can’t fault the commitment here then!
Andy: having only attended a couple of newbie sessions before, a stirling effort to complete the course. ‘In at the deep end’ or what?
Nick and Tim, 3 and 4, what can I say? – unflinching – kept us all going… Tim’s 1st race too!
Matt and myself, stroke pair – Matt, (1st outing outside the harbour) drafted in at the last minute, well done. Me, loosing the plot on the run in – Where is the B*%$@y line anyway?

Thanks to ‘Cornish’ for managing, and Debs for coxing a difficult course.

We all then talked an excellent ‘next race’ in the bar afterwards. Roll on the next one. Our efforts, finishing down the race order, well reflected in the fact we were the last club to vacate the bar afterwards (too many rugby players in the crew!). Boat safely delivered back in one peace by 7pm… I suggest the new paint job could include ‘go faster’ stripes!

So, come on, hopefully we won’t be rushing round to fill the boat next time.

Jerry

Ok, so the starting was always going to be very hard to organise in a strong crosswind and with tide running (balance a perfect line-up against crews freezing and colliding) but other than that top marks.

First time I’ve finished a race with hands just about as cold as at the start.