Peet's selfless training may all be for nothing

IT MUST be the most unenviable role imaginable. The Guernsey women's Atlantic rowing crew have filled a vitally-important position in the team, but she may never pull an oar in anger in the 2,935 miles between San Sebastian, La Gomera, and Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.

Catherine Peet has been announced as the fifth member of the quartet, the reserve rower.

'It's the right decision because it's the opportunity of a lifetime. I will find out so much about myself. I want to be able to push myself to my optimum level,' she said.

Crossing the Atlantic will be a supreme team effort. The pairs who have previously completed the challenge owe much to their numerous support crews, sponsors, helpers and friends.

The Guernsey four - Sarah Day, Paula Evemy, Lois Rawlins-Duquemin and Kathy Tracey - will be joined in every aspect of their training and preparation by Peet. She will complete them all alongside the quartet, but it may all be for nothing.

'Cat has taken up the challenge of raising her fitness, endurance and strength to that needed for the race across the Atlantic without knowing if she will actually compete,' said Day.

'It's a huge mental challenge,' said Peet.

She also has to fulfil the other conditions laid down by Woodvale, the event organiser, for everyone taking part in the race.

This means that along with the rest of the crew, she has to gain certificates in first aid for boating, sea survival and shore-based ocean masters and a VHF radio licence.

Peet will also have to have a medical and dental examination to confirm she is fit for the race.

She has been training at the Fitness Factory with the crew's personal trainer, Sam de Kooker, a member of men's crews which have completed many long-distance rows. Most recently, he was part of the world record-breaking crew which rowed from London to Paris.

'Sammy is really starting to push us hard now. We can see the improvement in the results we're getting in the gym,' said Rawlins-Duquemin.

'We're looking forward to pushing ourselves hard during the offshore rowing season to specifically lift our game in the rowing boat.'

The crew has also appointed Sue Bailey as project manager to co-ordinate, administer and manage the Atlantic rowing project.

Behind her is a team of volunteers who have also donated their time, expertise and expenses to the project.

The project team is divided into specific committees of various sizes, and Bailey's job is to ensure that there is no overlap - two groups doing the same thing at the same time - or any gaps.

The committee structure includes the finance committee, headed by Ben Tustin. This has the task of raising the funds needed to complete the challenge as well as securing reductions on costs. This committee also includes the team's accountant, Neil Brennan, who is keeping the books in order, monitoring expenditure and paying the bills.

Helping out is Leon, from Donkey Deliveries, who has pledged 5% of any new customers' orders if they say they support the rowers. Also on the finance side are Annie Penny, Jo Le Cheminant and Martin Priaulx. Their current fixation is corporate sponsorship.

The events committee, headed by Julie Evemy, has been making progress with investigations into local events to which the team can contribute. The Liberation Day parade, the Year of the Sea cavalcade and the rural shows are all possibilities for brand exposure for the crew's sponsor and a opportunity for the public to be part of the adventure.

The crew has started working on its team-functioning in terms of devising strategies for decision-making and conflict-resolution. For the past six weeks, the women have been meeting Bob Place, who has vast experience of working with teams in the armed forces, in sport and voluntary work.

His knowledge of how people function under extreme conditions, for example on polar expeditions or under fire, makes him a huge asset to the team's preparation work for the Atlantic crossing.

'The number of people the crew has helping and supporting them is too many to mention, but they know who they are and we appreciate every one of them,' said Jana Morgan, who has been acting as secretary for the crew.