MEMBERS of the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club all pulled together last month for an adventurous row up the length of the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands of Scotland.

It was a real team effort, with the rowers assisted by a support crew. The row took place between August 23 and 29 and was 66 miles in length — taking in 29 locks, four aqueducts and ten bridges.

The rowers were Lynn Renton, Helen Samson-Hill, Tricia Stewart, Helen Lloyd, Ginette Nobbs, Sue Douglass, Simon Howes, Mike Vosper, John Rogers and Chris Dill. The runners, cyclists and climbers were Rob Dawe, Carolyn Dawe, Ginette Nobbs, Charlie Lloyd and Sam Lloyd with a ground support crew of Andy Stewart and Brian Nobbs (who built Ginette and towed her up from Weir Quay).

It was vice chairman Rob Dawe who decided two years ago to take on and organise the challenge of rowing the Caledonian Canal from Fort William to Inverness. All the planning finally came to fruition in the last week of August this year.

Day one

The 16 strong team set off on the long 600 mile plus journey to Fort William. They arrived to warm sunshine and balmy air.

Day two

Tamar and Tavy Gig Club’s Cornish pilot gig, Ginette was launched from a slipway at Lochaber, with the boat flying the flag of Devon. A short row took the crew to the entrance of the Caledonian Canal at Corpach. Just into the canal they approached the eight locks of Neptune’s Staircase, gradually lifting the boat to a height of 70 feet above sea level.

This heralded the start of an eight mile row along the canal to Gairlochy and the group’s first night’s camping. The ground support team took the boat trailer to Dochgarroch, near Inverness, where parking had been arranged for the week. This proved a good introduction to the easy-going nature of the Highlands.

The lock-keeper, who clearly knew nothing of the arrangement, only commented, ‘Aye, if you say so’.

Day three

After breakfast, it was into the boat for the rowers and through the lock into Loch Lochy, rowing its entire length and leaving behind the shadow of Ben Nevis. Then it was back into the canal to Loch Oich, following it all the way to Fort Augustus, for the next night’s stop.

Day four

Starting from beautiful Fort Augustus members learnt a lesson that locks only operate one way — taking boats up, or taking boats down. So although ready at 9.30am at the top of the first of five locks taking the canal down to Loch Ness, a ‘double’ lift of boats from Loch Ness to the top meant it was 12.30pm before the gig hit the waters of the Loch. A slow start to a hard day’s row.

Given Loch Ness’s 23 mile length, the next stop was planned roughly halfway along, pulling the boat ashore for the night at Borlum, near Castle Urquhart.

The constantly changing and stunning scenery more than made up for the minor discomforts of midges and showers. That evening the members enjoyed a deserved trip to a nearby pub/micro brewery producing Loch Ness Ales.

There were many friendly greetings at the numerous locks, and great interest from other sailors and pedestrians.

In fact, in the course of the journey, the gig became known to fellow travellers and the lock-keepers, as ‘the wee boat with the flag’.

Day five

On the last leg of the row the crew completed Loch Ness and, still in choppy water and a strong south west wind, it was back into the Caledonian Canal for the final leg to Inverness.

All that was left was to take the gig from its mooring in Inverness through the sea lock into the Beauly Firth for a short sea row to the slipway of North Kessock.

Final night

A final night of celebration at a food and music venue - Hootenannys - capped a memorable experience for all.