Training Harder.....

So, only 2½ weeks to go and training has really intensified; we’re up to 3 sessions per week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Last Sunday’s session saw us heading up the river to Westminster Bridge, against the tide and with the Thames at its busiest.

We were continually buffeted by the wash from countless clippers and pleasure boats, full of visitors enjoying the beautiful early summer sunshine.

The full crew – Guy, Phil, Angus, Bruno, Simon and Lee – were joined by Faye, who’s kindly (and bravely) agreed to cox us across the Channel.

And it was a difficult inaugural voyage for Fay, as she had to guide us through the busy river traffic between Tower Bridge and Westminster whilst also taking instructions from our safety boat; all the time having to deal with the fiercely choppy waves that pitched and tossed us about and filled the boat with water.

Rowing at the prow of the boat, as I do, made for some very interesting moments as the wash from larger vessels frequently caused waves that hit us with a force that frequently lifted me off the cutter’s wooden seat, only to return the next moment with a mighty crash.

Although we found it hard going, it was well worth it as it forced us to face two of the most serious challenges we’ll face in the actual Channel crossing; seriously choppy seas and the potential to be sat in an open boat under the white hot sun.

But the team came through Sunday’s session well and apart from some new blisters where we’d all be pulling through the water so hard, we got back to the Ahoy still with plenty of energy.

And thanks to Fay’s excellent coxing, without collision or capsizing.

During the week we’d learnt that the teams attempting to row from London to Paris had to undertake the actual Channel crossing by ferry due to bad weather.

So, all our fingers are crossed for good weather on 10th June so we can complete our attempt without a hitch. We have a window of 4 days (10th - 13th June) for our attempt and we’re confident we’ll have the right conditions on at least one of those days.

We must say a big thank you to our support team from the Ahoy; Bailey for training us, Tony and Ibby for manning the safety boats and Sarah – the Ahoy’s fundraising co-ordinator.

Without all their hard work the cross Channel attempt couldn’t take place.

And of course we must also say a big thank you to everyone who’s sponsored us so far; your kind donations have helped us to raise almost £5,000 to date – a phenomenal display of generosity.

But we still have a long way to go to hit our fundraising target of £15,000; so please continue to donate at:

http://www.justgiving.com/ahoybuoys

Thanks for all your continued support.

Queenborough Spit......

....not a Kentish real ale, but our destination last Sunday for our first foray onto the open sea!

Having scythed through the water at last Tuesday’s training session under the enthusiastic coxing of Simon and then Guy, we decided it was time to take on some real waves.

And so just after around 9.30am on Sunday morning we left Dulwich bound for the Isle of Sheppey.

We got there in just over an hour and rendezvoused with Bailey, Tony and the rest of the Ahoy team who had towed the cutters down the night before.

To date we’d only seaward as far as the Thames Barrier, so this jaunt around Sheerness was designed to give us the experience of “surfing” the big waves we’d find out in the Channel.

We were joined by local rowing expert Marco, who very kindly agreed to cox our sister team, Chaucer.

We headed out to the estuary with grey clouds overhead and the wind starting to whip the waves up nicely. A few spots of rain threatened but luckily the much feared storm held off.

Angus coxed us expertly, urging us to pull harder and longer as we crashed through 2-3 feet high waves. Waves started to hit the boat side-on, which helped the boat to surge through the water.

After an hour and a half rowing out to sea, with the mainland getting more and more distant and bad weather moving in, our safety boat told us to head for home. We got the bit between our teeth and flew through the water, our oars making a single splash – the sign of a team rowing in perfect unison.

We got back to Queenborough harbour and were disappointed to find that during our 2½ hours on the water we’d only covered about 7 miles, albeit rowing against the tide for much of that time. However the experience of being out in open water fighting against the swell and into a cold wind was invaluable; we have a real feeling for what we’re going to be up against on June 10th.

A hard session but a real confidence booster for the cross Channel row in 3 weeks time.

Tired but exhilarated by the experience we moored our boat and headed for the hospitality of the Old House at Home where, over a couple of pints, Marco gave us the benefit of his many years of rowing experience.

With only 9 more training sessions remaining before the big day our thoughts are really focussed on the challenge ahead of us and we’d really like to thank everyone who’s already sponsored us or pledged money, but please remember there’s still plenty of time to contribute at:

http://www.justgiving.com/ahoybuoys

6 weeks to go!

We first got involved with the Ahoy back in 2008 and volunteered to enter that year's Great River Race to help them raise money to buy new equiment to help disabled young people enjoy sailing.

Rowing a Thames Waterman Cutter the crew completed the 22 miles from Richmond to Greenwich in a very creditable time of 2 hours 40 minutes and beat our fund-raising target.

Inspired by our success we then agreed to enter the 2009 race. We started training in March and our dedication paid off when we claimed 2nd place in our class (out of 25 boats) and 6th place overall, out of over 400 boats on the river that day. More importantly we also raised £20,000 for the Ahoy.

And so with the bar now set high we have taken the challenge up a level; rowing the Channel!

On June 10th, weather permitting, we will take to the water at Dover, and supported by our pilot boat, head for Calais with the aim of smashing the world record of 2 hours 45 minutes.

Together with our sister crew, Chaucer, we're trying to raise £30,000 for the Ahoy.

The Ahoy Centre is based in Deptford and offers facilities and opportunities for people with disabilities and disadvantaged young people. The Ahoy does some great work and really helps these young people to broaden their experience, gain skills, interact with others and have fun.

We’ve been training since January and our trainer, Bailey, has been putting us through our paces with regular circuit training sessions, long stints on the rowing machines and as the weather’s improved getting on the river. Last week we rowed our boat (a traditional Thames Cutter) from the Ahoy to Richmond for some ocean-going modifications.

Last night was a fantastic training session; we had glorious conditions on the river and rowed from Deptford past the O2 (Millennium Dome) before turning for home, with the Sun setting over the City and a full moon hanging majestically over the Royal Naval College at Greenwich behind us.

Let me introduce the crew:

Stroke: Guy Saunders
No. 2: Phil Wall
No.3: Angus Scott
No. 4: Bruno Linder
No. 5: Simon Rodd
No. 6: Lee Witherell

We'll be posting pictures and video on the blog so look out for regular updates on our progress.

If you’d like to sponsor us then please visit:

http://www.justgiving.com/AHOYBuoys

All donations, large or small, are most welcome; please don’t forget to add Gift Aid if you’re a UK tax payer!

Many thanks.

Lee & the Ahoy Buoys team