Langstone Cutters Rowing Club 2009 Log of Events

Saturday 5th September 2009 - The Great River Race

The Langstone Cutters put in an excellent entry of five boats this year. Including 15 Seconds, Millie, Gladys, Mabel and Bembridge. With several GRR virgins the club put up a good show of strength & determination.

Cutters super-vets (over 60s) in Gladys won their class for the fifth successive year. 15 Seconds won the women's trophy. Bembridge put up a great fight but didn't win silverware - but next year they will be truly acquainted with their boat and the opposition had better watch out. Mabel finished.
Huge congratulations to all and a very big thank you to the folks who supported the club entries by towing boats to and from London.

Watch some video taken from Mabel during the race. With clips of Gladys & Bembridge.

Also a very nice shot of Millie just after passing the finish line

And to make sure the crew of 15 Seconds is not left out click here to view some super pictures. Check out picture 120 of 137 (IMG_1445.jpg) and you can let your imagination run wild as to just what the cox is shouting at his mum!!!

There is a great selection of pictures and all the results at the Great River Race web site.

Saturday 27th June -- The Summer Regatta

Langstone Cutters Rowing club entertains and races Gravesend Rowing club in 9 Clayton races. Click here for the FULL story.

Saturday 20th June - The Bembridge comes to Langstone

After lengthy negotiations with the Pat Sherwin Trust, owners of four Solent Galley, the Langstone Cutters Rowing Club have been named as custodians of of Bembridge. A 30ft four oared, very sleek and fast traditional clinker built rowing boat.

How we collected Bembridge by Chris Partridge & Steve Sagrott

On Saturday evening, members of Langstone Cutters RC rowed the Solent Galley Bembridge from Portsmouth to her new home in Chichester Harbour. The boat is part of the collection of the late Pat Sherwin, and is now on permanent loan to the Cutters from the Pat Sherwin Trust.

Bembridge was picked up at the slip in Old Portsmouth. The long, light and elegant boat was carried down the slipway by the crew and launched into the rather intimidating waters of Portsmouth Harbour, where warships, cross-channel ferries and speeding ribs are frequent dangers. She seemed very close to the water, and a number of slightly alarming leaks were apparent - she has been out of the water for a while. She is also a bit tippy compared with the wide Clayton skiffs we are used to. But she rowed beautifully, moving along almost without effort, and we soon became much more confident.  We rowed up harbour passed the Spinnaker Tower, the naval dockyard, HMS Victory and Whale Island. At the entrance to Hilsea Channel, which separates Portsea Island from the mainland, the tide was only beginning to fill and we had to row lightly through the narrow, meandering channel. Allowing the incoming tide to guide us through the mud banks we rowed under the Hilsea Roundabouts, the London to Portsmouth mainline railway and the Eastern Road. Now we were in Langstone Harbour, 2 out 3. Rowing through the moored yachts parallel to the Eastern road we headed South. Rounding the peninsular of the Langstone Harbour RSPB reserve we headed for Langstone. Here we discovered that with six people onboard the Bembridge would row in less than 12 inches of water... blades just gently kissing the water. After traversing the mud banks we headed for deeper water and the Havant to Hayling bridge. Through what is left of the old Hayling Island Railway bridge and under the road bridge into Chichester Harbour... 3 out of 3. With the sun beginning to set home & the pub was in sight. A good row was finished off by getting Bembridge out of the water and into the storage area. Some light refreshments were had in the Royal Oak before wending our way homeward for a good sleep! I think she will add a new dimension to rowing in the Langstone Cutters Rowing club so drop by and take a look

Sunday March 29th - Blessing of the Boats

The Blessing of the Boats is a tradition that originated in Portugal in the late 15th century at a time when Portugal dominated maritime history with the accomplishments of noted explorers such as Vasco da Gama (1498) and Ferdinand Magellan (1519-21).

It was good to see the Langstone Cutters continue both traditions – maritime dominance (illustrated by success in the 2008 London2Paris challenge and in the Great River race) and of blessing the boats

The blessing was attended by a good number of club members and was conducted with suitable reverence by Keith who then defrocked and enjoyed a ride on the harbour on Gladys’ post-overhaul maiden voyage.

And when we sang with great gusto “For those in peril on the sea!” we were carrying on a tradition started in Hampshire (where the poem was written in 1860) and with links to other, somewhat apocryphal, but nonetheless memorable events in maritime history. The tune "Melita" is an archaic term for Malta, an ancient seafaring nation and the site of a shipwreck involving the Apostle Paul. The hymn has been adopted as almost a second national anthem by the US military (including an adaptation for space ships) as well as being featured in such memorable historical maritime epics as Titanic, Crimson Tide, The Perfect Storm and Mr Bean.

It was sadly ironic (or maybe serendipitous?) that whilst we were blessing the boats and wishing god’s speed to our crews, the Hayling life boat (alerted by Mark Taylor) was rescuing four sailors from a burning boat in the harbour. (see a full write up here )

On Sunday we also welcomed Gladys back from the refit, led by Geoff Shilling and Les Plater, over the winter. All (except perhaps Mabel) were mightily impressed by Gladys’ go-faster stripes and appreciative of the TLC which she had obviously enjoyed.... Geoff is looking for some help to now bring Mabel up t o scratch.
As a new member I was delighted to take part in Sunday’s events, in the sausage and shanty evening organised a few days earlier by Frances Taylor, and am looking forward to the serious fun and good rowing on offer in 2009.
 

Written by Peter O’Sullivan

Photographs taken by Nigel Armstrong

Wednesday March 25th - Sausages & Shanties

A good collection of Cutters and their guests frequented the Royal Oak who served up generous portions of Sausages, mash and onion gravy. Once filled we were joined by our friends the shanty singers. What better way is there to finish off a good meal with many rousing sea songs. Included in their repertoire are several songs written especially for the Cutters including the London2Paris Rowing Race song. A good time was had by all drifting off into the night singing (quietly) away to ourselves.

Guess Where?  

Three club members went down to Langstone on Sunday 22nd February for a club rowing session! Only three people turned up so it was out with a Tefi and off they rowed. But where did they go? Any ideas? take a look at the photo to the right and see if you can identify the location! No prizes but let the web master know your guess.

Rowing in January, February and March

Throughout the winter your committee have organised a series of “Saturday Rows”. Taking advantage of the quieter waters we ventured out onto the waters of Chichester & Langstone harbours rowing to the east, the west and north (sort of). Rowing teams ranged from a full complement of two Tefis and one Clayton donw to a single Clayton. Everyone appreciated the ability to be out on the water during winter and we enjoyed many very beautiful days weather wise.  members have been meeting on a Saturday to enjoy rowing for longer periods than the normal club rowing days allow. 

One incident needs mentioning so all club members can learn!
On Saturday 10th January a group of 11 of us got together to go out for a good long row. We rowed with 5 in the Clayton (Gladys) and 3 in each of the two Tefi Skiffs. Our objective was to row to East Head, enjoy a cup of tea and row back. Conditions in the harbour were calm, almost no wind but cold. All went well; rowing was good and most enjoyable until the first Tefi approached East Head. It was still relatively calm as they approached the beach but just as they were about to land a swell rose up behind them and caused the boat to become broadside on to the wave. The wave duly and unceremoniously tipped the three rowers out into about 2ft of water. Not a pleasant experience when there was ice on the beach.

On seeing this the Clayton & second Tefi stood off the beach to assess what could be done. The Clayton rowed a bit further up the beach where the waves seemed less broadside on and beached it safely. The second Tefi then also beached. We met up with the now wet crew who were plied with hot tea & biscuits. Our shore side backup drove round to East Head to take the soggy crew home as quickly as possible. This left us three people down and three boats to get back to Langstone. Fortunately we had some experienced rowers so the Tefis were rowed back coxless. We rowed home and managed to get there with just enough water to moor the Clayton. 

Chichester Harbour rescue services WORKS! 
Just after we started the row back we were approached by the Hayling Island Sailing Club rescue RIB. The Solent Coastguard had received a call saying a boat had capsized and three people were in the water. The wheels were put in motion and the HISC rescue boat dashed across to where we were to verify and review the situation. We were able to explain all and reassure him that no assistance was required. A further call to the Solent Coastguard after we finished the row closed the issue.

A row we will not forget and there are a number of lessons to be learned from this “adventure”. They include:

1. Do not attempt to beach a Tefi in anything other than flat calm conditions.
2. Always stand off from the shore and assess the situation. If it looks in the least bit difficult abort any attempt to land.
3. Before starting a long row there must be one appointed leader who stresses the safety issues.
4. When rowing in the winter with multiple craft it is essential you all stay together. You are your own rescue craft. After all the water is extremely cold, your survival chances are very low if you are alone.

Wednesday 28th January 2009 - LCRC Rower steers Britain’s Newest Warship into Portsmouth

Captain Paul Bennett, member of the Langstone Cutters took command of the first Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Daring, in the British Navy.

He successfully "cox'd" it into Portsmouth Harbour lunch time today without bumping the Round Tower nor did he manage to get it stuck on the mud (well it was high tide!). 

A few Langstone Cutters went down to the hot walls in Old Portsmouth with the LCRC Banner and a flag.  We had the banner hanging from the railings and waved the flag vigorously -- Paul may have seen us although I wouldn't be surprised if he was too busy.  Congratulations Paul.

Thursday 1st January 2009 - 1^st Row of the New Year

Providing typically English weather, New Years Day dawned dull grey and cold. Undaunted Mike & Steve drove to Southsea to collect one Solent Galley, a smaller rowing boat (we called it a Solent Skiff) and three members of the Southsea Rowing club. The idea was to provide the LCRC members with the opportunity to experience rowing a Solent Galley. Arriving in Langstone long before high tide we had plenty of time to set the boats ready for rowing. The Solent Galley and skiff are light enough to be handled by 4 rowers. As the high tide was not very high we got the boats out on the water as early as we possibly could. Fortunately there was very little wind so the sea was delightfully calm and navigation around the mud banks possible. 

A good turnout out by members of the Langstone Cutters saw us able to crew four boats in total. Everyone being able to have more than one row in the Solent Galley. Around the “island” was the route mostly used which gave each member of the club the opportunity to see how the Galley rows - and what a super boat it is. We managed to make the most of the tide available to us and had an excellent session rowing. 

Everyone was made welcome with warming mulled wine supplied by Deborah along with mince pies and other Christmas goodies supplied by numerous members of the club. Big thanks to everyone who sent along wine, & food. 

After a good session rowing and with light just starting to fade we packed up the boats, loaded them onto their trailer and took then Solent boats and their crew back to Southsea. A very big thank you to Pip for agreeing to loan us the Solent Galley and to Peter and his team for joining us for the day. Let’s hope wel have more days like this in 2009.

Page Last Updated on Friday, October 09, 2009