By Isle of Wight Observer
Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club had a successful day at the Cockleshell Challenge, an annual open rowing in the Solent, run by the Eastney Cruising Association.
The event celebrates the famous Cockleshell Heroes from WWII, and the course covers some of the area where much of the training for Operation Franklin was carried out.
The race itself is an open sea race for fixed-seat rowing boats, and covers approximately nine miles, starting at the Eastney Cruising Association heading out to Horse Sands Fort and back again.
A total of 28 boats took part including 11 Cornish Pilot Gigs, which included Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club’s ‘Sea Spirit’. Yarmouth started 24th out of 28 entries. By the end of the course, they were fourth, having overhauled 20 boats.
When the final results were worked out, including the handicaps for the various classes, Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club had achieved the following: fifth fastest overall and second overall on handicap; first in class (of seven GRP Cornish Gigs); first crew in the open/men’s category (out of 13) and first super-vets (over fifty) crew (of 12).
Cox, Bill Freshwater, said: “This was a very competitive field and so, for us, this was a tremendous effort from the entire crew today. It was one of those days when all the hard work we put in on training just came together.
“This is such a growing sport and it’s nice to see the Isle of Wight making its mark against some of the bigger clubs the other side of the Solent.”
