Tamar & Tavy Gig Club02/06/2008
Rock regatta.
Rock regatta one of the highlights on the circuit for spectators and rowers, took place on Sunday accompanied by hoards of sun seeking supporters. The festival atmosphere of Daymer Beach soon gave way to Rock’s rigorous and ruthless racing. The primal beat of oars in the thole pins, clashing oars and hollering coxes saw Tamar, Tamar and Tavy gig club’s new boat, consistently in the thick of the pack.
The Women’s and Men’s veteran teams both took 8th place. The women’s B in a hard battled race with local rivals Calstock took 21st place, with new rower this season, Loveday Fethney, making a debut in the powerhouse of the boat. The Men’s B also saw Andy Morton, Tom Friend and David Goodspeed making their debut for the club with the welcome return of Santosh Chakrabartri after injury. The Men’s A and Women’s A teams, again tight in the pack with ferocious tactics form the opposition requiring nifty coxing from Bill Stacy Norris and Peter Clarke, both took 17th place. The day ended with a novelty race in which the Tamar and Tavy team excelled no doubt aided by the presence runner Carrie Lawson, new member Jane Morton and excellent support from the launch crew, as the teams sprinted down the beach, leapt into the waiting gig, rowed fervently across the Camel Estuary and back whilst changing shirts before finishing with a sprint back up the beach.
In contrast Saturday saw both the gigs navigating the tranquil upper reaches of the Tamar with a long but leisurely paddle from Weir Quay to the opening of Cothele’s new museum and Morwellham’s refurbished quay with 34 rowers taking part in the social row.
