Wind and tide slow times as Guernsey crews dominate
GUERNSEY won the sea battle and retained the Le Poidevin Trophy despite a few skirmishes running in Jersey’s favour in the annual highlight of the Channel Islands’ rowing calendar.
The Rawlinson and Hunter Sark2Jersey returned on Saturday and while Caesarean men’s quad Close Finance pinched line honours at Bonne Huit, two Sarnian men’s doubles arrived in the same minute to help change the flow of the inter-insular contest.
Tim Nicolle and James Travers led the doubles in and not too far back in the fleet, Guernsey’s flagship Out of the Blue ladies’ quad dominated their category but missed out on the class record that they had quietly been targeting.
This was no isolated case, for variable wind and tidal conditions over the 26km course made for tougher going than expected and not one crew managed to break the two-hour benchmark.
But it was still a beautiful morning as over 40 boats gathered for the Dixcart Bay for the mass start.
With bright sun and glistening waters providing very pleasant spectating, Close Finance soon powered away to a convincing lead as several doubles gave chase.
Jersey’s ‘Catch 22’ pair of Pierrick Ledard and record-breaking singles rower Des Nevitt had started well but even as they sped along the shortest racing line, Tim and Trav continued to row them close.
Having successfully caught Catch 22, Guernsey’s leading duo now headed a distinct three-horse doubles race also featuring the resurgent Joe Paul and Simon Johns.
Close Finance soon entered the choppier final third of the course and passed the Paternosters turn-buoy about a minute clear of Tim and Trav, who were by now concentrating on technique and driving towards the leading quad.
But ultimately, they ran out of time to draw level with Close Finance.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
