Events Completed - 2024
Cockleshell Challenge - September 30th
A great day was had by the crew of Sea Spirit on this Saturday, taking on the Cockleshell Challenge - a just over seven nautical mile race from Eastney, around the Solent’s Horse Sand Fort and back again. Calm conditions with an ebbing tide and a head wind on the final leg. Hugely well done all, and especially Susan, coxing her first race!
And a good result too (full results below) - seventh out of twenty three overall and tenth out of twenty three on handicap - third out of seven in class! Great rowing!
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Susan (cox) Andy (stroke), Nick, Keith, Caroline, Paula, Geoff
Great River Race - Saturday September 21st
Yet another wonderful day on the Thames! This year with another two hundred and sixty eight boats including seventy cornish pilot gigs.
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We took two boats again this year crewed by sixteen eager members all excited about competing again in this marvelous spectacle. Although it was a little grey at the start, the weather held and brightened, so that from Tower Bridge onwards we were rowing mostly in warm sunshine. Good job the sun screen was abundent before we started.
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The start was delayed by fifteen minutes, which meant both crews spent over an hour manouvering and holding against the current before finally drifting up to the start bang on time - Sea Spirit at two fifteen and Spirit at two twenty.
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It was after five in the evening before both crews finished and although exhausted we had all had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Landing, getting the boats ashore, retrieving trailers and loading them amongst what felt like another hundred boats and crew, was a little challenging but with teamwork and few beers we made it. By the time all was done, it was dark.
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The evening was rounded off with a relaxing and convivial meal at a local italian restaurant. Job done! Many thanks to everyone who, organised, towed, booked and made all of the arrangements to make this such a special day.
Head of the Ouse - Saturday September 7th
This was a great trip to East Sussex for the Head of the Ouse. The day started on the 07:00 ferry from Fishbourne followed by a drive through West and East Sussex to Newhaven on the somewhat busy A27!
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It was a race of two halves - seven miles upriver on the last of the flood from Newhaven to Lewes for the men’s crew, and the downriver return to Newhaven from the start of the ebb for the ladies; both expertly coxed by John Kerr (HUGE thanks JK!).
How absolutely wonderful it was to be able to row through the beautiful South Downs (and the rain had stopped by then!!)
Very many thanks to organisers: Newhaven GRC, Affinity RC, Lewes PGC and Lewes RC, whose significant army of helpers were on hand throughout, providing help and information, hot drinks, delicious food (those bacon rolls!!), and great support and encouragement on the water.
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Upriver: Cox JK, Sam (stroke), Geoff, Andy, Clive, Andrew, Keith
Downriver: Cox JK, Fiona (stroke), Susan, Caroline, Penny, Carole, Polly
Tudor 10 Challenge - Saturday August 3rd
There’s a reason it’s called a challenge! But what a brilliant race on a windy day!
Almost a full mens crew, (with 6 men and one woman thrown into the mix) took on the challenge and rowed a race to be proud of. Rowing in the Clubs original Cornish Pilot Gig 'Sea Spirit', they raced the 16.277Km (according to Terrys Garmin) in a very respectable 2 hours, 9 min, 23 seconds, finishing overall in 11th place of 27 vessels taking part. Probably the oldest crew taking part in the race, they came in 3rd position in the vets category. Not a bad result at all!
The event organisers did a brilliant job, and competitors helped to make the boat launches and recoveries a very slick operation. The course was tough and rough, with no fewer than 11 buoys to navigate. Credit to our brilliant Cox/stroke duo, John and Geoff.
It was a good opportunity to catch up and meet new people. Back on shore, there was (much needed) burgers and beers after the event. We were even treated to live music from the local Sea Shanty group!
A great crew on the day; John, Geoff, Terry, Helena, Clive, Andy, Nick. Well done all, you did it!
Round Hayling Island Race - Sunday July 21st
The images below are all that's needed to tell the Before and After stories of our Round Hayling Island Race. We entered two Cornish Gigs, Spirit and Sea Spirit, one a mens crew and the other a ladies. Both crews set out to enjoy the day and complete the course which each achieved in expected times. It's easy to see that no-one left anything out there!! It was FANTASTIC!!! Hugely well done rowers, strokes and coxes!!!
Spirit Crew: John, Andy, Geoff, Clive, Andrew, Terry. Cox: Keith
Sea Spirit Crew: Rosanne, Sarah, Fiona, Sue, Jill, Clare. Cox: Bill
What a Finish Ladies!!
Bembridge Gig Fest - June 8th & 9th
Results
HAMBLE RIVER RAID -11th May 2024
What a great event on a beautiful sunny day!!
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A YGRC men's crew rowed an impressive (very tough and hot) race in our beautiful Cornish Pilot Gig 'Spirit' ... crossing the finish line in 47.36 mins (4th out of the 12 Cornish Pilot Gigs - what a brilliant result!).
This superbly organised event included numerous other rowing categories plus SUPs/kayaks - with a rolling start and couple of tight turns along the way!
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The YGRC supporters cheered proudly from ashore ... and all enjoyed the great shore-based atmosphere, stalls, food and drink. It was superb to mingle and meet up with other clubs and some great old friends too (a couple of our members just couldn't resist cooling off in the river!!). A FUN TIME was had by all and with a well-deserved swift half and hog roast at the end - perfect!
Crew: John, Geoff, Terry, Jonathan, Clive, Andy. Cox: Bill. Supporters: Helena, Rosanne. Well done all!
17th Feb - Winter Gig Series - Eastney Cruising Ass'n
After a week of soggy wet weather, last Saturday dawned sunny and dry, and a crew of 7 took part in YGRC's first racing event of 2024. The 3 Harbours Winter Gig Series at Langstone Harbour was hosted by Eastney Cruising Association. Rowing in a traditional Cornish Pilot Gig, kindly loaned by the event organisers, the mixed crew competed in both the available races.
Race 1 was just less than 4 miles inside Langstone Harbour, and Race 2, a sprint around the old “mulberry harbour“ wreck, less than 1000m. 4 gigs competed in in the mixed category, including the Yarmouth crew. In total 11 gigs competed in the various categories of the event. "An amazing day, great rowing, lovely company". Great winter rowing!!!
