Saturday, 13th June began as a perfect summer morning. Driving north on the A1 traffic was very light. Crossing the border into Scotland was seamless. Arriving at Port Seton and travelling through the neat residential streets we encountered many fluttering Saltires (Scotland has high hopes for this World Cup!). Convenient parking for the regatta was problem free with not a 24 foot luxury camper van in sight. Getting out of the car we encountered a stiff breeze and admired the pretty harbour.
Harbour (definition) – a sheltered body of deep water where boats can safely anchor and are protected from rough sea waves and harsh winds.
We all tried to figure out the course – a ‘figure of eight’ (not quite drawn correctly) circumnavigating two buoys one in each adjacent harbour section with a narrow passage between. Fortunately all was clarified at the coxes briefing with the news that our practised red turns were now obsolete and green turns were the way forward. Crews were to race two at a time, setting off from the central point of the ‘figure of eight’ in opposite directions and against the clock.
First race was the Men’s Open. Alnmouth were in the fifth, and final heat, and had to wait patiently in the harbour as the wind fortified and the waves began to launch themselves over the newer east pier of the outer harbour. Rhoda skilfully coxed the boat, for what seemed like an eternity, manoeuvring Pride of Aln to avoid the harbour wall that the relentless wind and waves seemed intent on pushing PoA towards. Eventually, the men set off, with Ade, Peter, David C. and Dave making a valiant effort in the challenging conditions.
David C. and Peter had very little respite as they were in the first heat of the next race, the Novice Mixed, along with Jen and Cheryl and David A. coxing. The windy conditions made communication for the start somewhat challenging, resulting in Alnmouth rowing the course twice and our competitors withdrawing from the race after an incident involving one of their oars and the harbour wall. If nothing else, we prevailed!
Alnmouth’s third race, was the Women’s 50+, crewed by Rhoda, Lara, Cheryl and Karen and coxed by Dave F. This was later declared by the Port Seton officials to have been the windiest part of the day and indeed, standing facing into the wind we all looked substantially younger than 50+! Surprisingly, rowing into the wind seemed to be the preferred direction by the crew.
As the day progressed, while we enjoyed Port Seton refreshments (cake and more cake) and the music (from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s) Ade spotted and ably rescued a Frenchman escaping across the harbour towards the open sea.
The 240+ race was very tight on time differentials. Coxed by Lara and crewed by Dave F., Rachel B., Rhoda and David A. in a heat that was a draw and this race had some of the fastest times.
Building upon this performance, triumph was soon to follow. Dave F. coxed Jen, Karen, Rob and Ade to a Silver Medal in the Mixed Open narrowly being beaten to a Gold Medal by Boatie Blest in the final.
Jen and Karen were then crewing in the first heat of the next race, the Women’s Open, along with Lara and Rachel B. and coxed by David A.
Raring to go!
The last race of the day was soon upon us. The Men’s 50+, coxed by Dave F. and crewed by Ade, Rob, Peter and David A. A tightly fought race with only 14 seconds separating the fastest seven crews (including Alnmouth).
We packed up, the medals were awarded followed by a Port Seton sea shanty and we were ready to return home. A great day with interesting rowing conditions, a new race format and a fantastic challenge. Looking forward to the next one.