This was one of several significant placings for Sarnian crews in the tough 28km race, also known as the Jersey to Carteret, with Chris Markham and Pierre Mahy second to the French in the doubles, and the TCS Tide Chasers women’s quad placing fourth.
Gabby Corlett and Gemma Scovell were the only women’s double and so won their class by default.
The race had started earlier than initially planned due to the threat of worsening conditions.
The Nova Wealth quad had ended up in a three-way battle with the top Jersey boats, all being together at the obligatory passage of Ecreviere around half way, but missed out on the win they desired after suffering for their decision to take a more southerly course.
‘On another day, our decision would have been the right decision,’ said cox and Guernsey Rowing Club vice-captain Nicky Will.
‘There was not as much tide as expected, and it was also really rough.’
The Guernsey quad, who had James Briggs in as a substitute for Paul Pearce, also lacked experience rowing together in that specific crew.
They ultimately finished in 2hrs 8min. 40sec., within 2min. 26sec. of Will Le Quelenec’s winning crew.
‘When you look at the tracker, we were the fastest boat on the water but just rowed further and didn’t pick up the tide we thought we would,’ GRC captain Ben Vaudin said.
‘One of those things.’
Will admitted, 'we were a little disappointed’, but thanked the guard boats that supported the crews in challenging conditions.
Guernsey’s other men’s quad, Enhance Rowing, placed 10th of 12 in the powerhouse class with 2-41-57.
The Societe Nautique de la Baie de Saint-Malo’s entry dominated the men’s doubles, in fact beating the top quads time with their 2-05-29.
But Markham and Mahy, who were initially hoping to take on the challenge in a quad, were best of the rest in 2-20-07.
They finished 1-53 clear of the third-placed crew, who were representing the Lake Geneva-based club of Chablais Aviron Thonon.
‘They’ve been having a really strong season,’ Will added.
‘That’s a really good result – only beaten by the French, who are traditionally really good in this race.’
Jodie Martel’s Tide Chasers battled the tough conditions to finish at the tail of a strong women’s quads class with 2-49-13.
In the women’s doubles, the second-season combination of Bright Electrical: Double G rowed a lonely race to finish in 2-57-53.
Although they lacked competition, Will was complimentary of their performance, adding: ‘Our ladies’ doubles absolutely smashed it and did really well.’
