Scheduled Sark to Jersey up in the air
THE Sark to Jersey remains pencilled in as an ambitious – but still possible – spectacle of the 2021 rowing season.
The 26km inter-island race features prominently on Guernsey Rowing Club’s calendar and would take place on 10 July in an ideal world – with another three backup dates listed that same month.
Of course, beyond the normal tidal troubles, the Jersey-based organisers have the Covid pandemic to plan around.
GRC captain Sam de Kooker said the race’s fate is ‘up in the air’.
‘I would not be surprised if we do not have a Sark to Jersey, but things are changing and they are pretty dynamic,’ he said.
‘Hopefully they can hold one. It’s the main race between the islands – it’s our Muratti.’
A welcome development came more recently with the release of a new Bailiwick blueprint raising hopes of quarantine-free travel from 1 July.
In any case, de Kooker confirmed that their Jersey counterparts have been discussing with relevant authorities and looking at all options, including shifting the race later into the season.
A select few will also be hoping to contest the gruelling Gorey to Carteret, set for 17 July.
Yet the upcoming domestic season is looking more hopeful.
Rowers must await the start of stage three to train in crews, although the boat park is locked until the start of next month anyway, and the planned season opener is a sharp 3.1km St Sampson’s to St Peter Port race on 24 April.
Ten championship races are on the cards as well as a seven-part handicap series, the latter having been cancelled entirely during the coronavirus-curtailed 2020 season.
‘If we can get a full season, fantastic,’ de Kooker added.
‘I think everyone’s really excited about it. Last season went really well with the circumstances, but we did not have the handicap series, and that was a big loss. It’s an important series that really brings on the novice rowers.
‘There’s some great races like the Guernsey to Sark [which shares the Gorey to Carteret date], and hopefully all that can go ahead.’
The captain is also welcoming back two of his personal favourites, the 11.6km Around Jethou and 16.5km Havelet to Rocquaine, both adding further variety and distance to the local calendar.
GRC’s first Have A Go Row of this year will take place on 27 March if stage three has arrived by then. Details on Facebook.
