By Isle of Wight Observer
Ryde Rowing Club member, Yogi Ashworth, has represented the Royal Navy in Brazil, securing second place in the “Friendly Navies” division, despite having just three training sessions with his doubles partner.
Midshipman Ashworth, 19, raced in bow alongside Midshipman Benjamin Nash, 23, in stroke at the XLVIII Regatta A Remo Da Escola Naval, held on Rio de Janeiro’s Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.
Yogi, who is studying at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, volunteered after an email sought people with rowing experience. Only after being selected did he discover the race would take place in Brazil just weeks later.
Despite persistent rain and limited preparation, the Royal Navy pair made a strong start and led until around the 250-metre mark.
Brazil’s Marinha do Brasil “Escola Naval” crew gradually closed the gap, drawing level around halfway before moving ahead and eventually winning the 1,000-metre race, by between one and two lengths.
Yogi said he and Ben had been determined to win but were encouraged to discover, afterwards, that the Brazilian pair had been rowing together for years.
Their second-place glassware is now on display at the Arthur Harrison VC Gymnasium, at Dartmouth.
Yogi described racing internationally for the first time, surrounded by Rio’s distinctive mountains and with Christ the Redeemer overlooking the course, as one of his fondest rowing memories.
He thanked Ryde Rowing Club for taking him from a complete beginner to an international competitor, adding: “I owe it to the club.”
Mal Butler