Landing restrictions set to impact entries for the S2J
THE long-awaited Sark to Jersey will be hit by landing restrictions – and could well struggle for numbers as a result – if it goes ahead as planned next month.
That is Guernsey Rowing Club captain Sam de Kooker’s latest update coming into the 26.7km inter-island spectacle, which still has Public Health approval to go ahead on Saturday 10 July if conditions suit.
But now-confirmed Covid restrictions mean that Guernsey crews are unable to land in Jersey after over two hours’ exertion, which could deter rowers from turning up.
De Kooker is not expecting to compete and would be not surprised if only a single-digit number of Sarnian crews feature.
A diminished turnout could also have implications for the Le Poidevin Trophy, which is awarded to the leading island after calculating a total score across the full fleet of classes.
‘We are encouraging crews to do it as it’s our flagship race,’ said the captain of a race he often describes as rowing’s own Muratti.
‘Whether the Le Poidevin Trophy will be competed for, we do not know. That might not happen – it’s really up in the air unfortunately, but hopefully we will get a few crews.
‘That’s the situation with Covid... next year, hopefully, we will get a race without restrictions.’
GRC are still seeking answers from the Jersey-based organisers over whether records will be able to be set in the event, which may feature a slightly altered course to cater for the restrictions.
The ‘S2J’ build-up continued with the longest race of the developing season – the 16.4km Clameur Challenge.
Relatively pleasant conditions met rowers for the stamina test, which starts with a long south-easterly leg to the distinctive Lower Heads buoy, bears north past Jethou, and features another lengthy straight to Anfre on the return to Havelet.
TPA’s Simon Johns and James Coquelin posted the fastest time overall – 1hr 17min. 6sec. – to win the quality-packed men’s doubles from James Briggs and Paul Pearce. Sam de Kooker and James Tipper in Tri Fitness Performance took third, while an altered Offshore Group pairing of Tim Nicolle and Paul Montague placed fourth.
Marc Isabelle and Dani Barnett produced a solid row in the mixed doubles to beat rivals Ravenscroft by over 5min.
Just Stroke It won the overall quads honours, but only narrowly from the Le Mont Saint women whose 1-22-07 put them close to a class record that was set in very favourable tidal conditions during the 2012 season.
An improved forecast is now in demand for the three-day Herm weekend.
It is a rare occasion that the popular event goes ahead in its entirety, but if the stars align this year, it will start with Friday’s 5.7km handicap race to Herm before two round-island races on successive days, the latter also a handicap.
