Captain de Kooker fancies Out of the Blue’s chances

Conditions on Saturday meant that the 11.5km ‘Course H’ had to be called into action for the first time ever, in place of the perennially popular Havelet to Rocquaine, and racing numbers were somewhat down on the usual.

There was no major surprise at the sharp end as powerhouse men’s double Tim and Trav cut through the fleet for the fastest time of the day, throwing down a first-time benchmark of 54min. 43sec.

But the remaining crews relished the opportunity to test themselves ahead of this coming Saturday’s 28km Jersey-Carteret, otherwise known as the Gorey-Carteret.

There, GRC captain Sam de Kooker will take up his position within the crack Guernsey men’s quad as they race in the re-emerging Out of the Blue.

In the choppy local waters last weekend, he joined regular race partner Margi Jorgensen to win the mixed doubles in just over the hour.

‘I think most of the crews enjoyed it, but it was tough,’ said de Kooker afterwards.

‘Everybody felt a bit battered and bruised by the time they got in.’

Swoffers’ Pierre Mahy was one standout performer as with Chris Markham absent, he and sub James Tipper took line honours after setting off five minutes before the doubles class leaders and covering the course in 57-50.

Tim Nicolle and James Travers were next in and mixed double Shrek and Big Bird – de Kooker and Jorgensen – just about managed to hold off the later-starting Just Stroke It men’s quad, who had clocked 55-08 after rivalling Tim and Trav for a lap.

Men’s double James Briggs and Paul Pearce claimed second in their class, at 55-58, and the former is soon to revert temporarily to singles rowing for the Gorey-Carteret.

Briggs’ singles shell is one of the boats that de Kooker sees as a potential class winner, the other being – of course – his Out of the Blue. The quad of Sam and Tom De Kooker, Simon Johns and Shaun Kelling, coxed by Lloyd Le Page, will be gunning for overall honours.

Le Page, Johns and Kelling are the three returning members from a crew that ducked under the two-hour barrier to arrive in France more than five minutes clear of the leading Jerseymen.

Sam de Kooker has put in a few ‘under the radar’ training rows and fancies Guernsey’s chances.

‘I would like to think we could win the race and give the Jersey rowers a good battle,’ he said.

‘I am fairly confident we can beat them but you never know – France could put out a strong quad and other teams could come over.

‘We will be competitive and have a possibility to win it.’

There have been around 70 entries for the event, which runs from Gorey village from noon in three starting waves.