THE Welsh Rowing Coastal Championships kicked off last Saturday.
There were 99 athletes in attendance from clubs all around the UK and the weather was superb as the sun shone down on all with little wind to note.
All classes were supported, however the biggest were the ladies doubles.
Jersey rower Rick Rouille said: “Normally, our team competes in the 50-plus age category.
“However, with this crew in the Welsh Championships, it is your youngest person that counts, not the average age.
“Most of my crew rowed in other classes and won their respective age categories.
“As I’m stroking the boat, the crew relies on you putting in a top performance.
“I knew the weather was going to be bad at the end of the day and it didn’t disappoint.
“We were the last race and, as the mixed doubles were taking so long in the rough sea, it was delayed even further.”
There was a moment when all feared the race would be called off, as the tide had turned and the sea was rolling over the sand bar.
Rouille continued: “It was looking like we wouldn’t get out there, but credit to the organisers for making sure we could.
“We got in the water with a sub-in cox, Anna Child, and did our warm-up.
“The officials had cut the course to a once-round 3K race.
“There were only five boats out there, but now we were hunting the seniors quad from Mumbles.
“Of course, they were very fast out the blocks and by the time we had shrugged off the other crews, the sea was getting very rough.
“At this point, we levelled up to Mumbles and rowed through them.
“The top two marks were very rough and we got fully swamped, but the boats we row are wash decks and getting it back together with the sight of Mumbles catching us it was all systems go.
“We were the only class where the masters won outright and, given the conditions, it showed the experience we have certainly helped take us to the next level.”
