Only a few weeks after taking the Cornish Pilot Gig Ginette to Scotland to row the 60-mile Caledonian Canal, Tamar and Tavy Gig Club members ventured to London last month for the Great River Race 2015.

This was a spectacular boat race up the River Thames. The course was 21 miles from London’s Docklands to Ham House passing under 28 iconic bridges; starting with Tower Bridge and ending just after Richmond Bridge. Towing a 33 foot boat through Central London, ready for the start at Mill Wall Slip was an adventure in itself, passing by Parliament and the Tower of London.

The race attracted huge numbers of spectators and more than 330 crews from all over the globe, with the Dutch out in force.

Each boat carried a crew, cox, passenger and a large flag. The atmosphere was tremendous, with cheering, fancy dress and a huge range of paddle propelled craft.

Tamar and Tavy Gig Club, ably coxed by chairman Simon Howes, fielded a ladies’ crew of Lyn Renton (stroke), Denise Nixon, Heidi Brodribb, Charity Lake, Mel Cotton, Amy Ross and Helen Lloyd.

A strong head wind on the day meant Dragon boats were prohibited entry by the Port of London Authority, but the rest of the boats took to the water and the race was on!

Tamar and Tavy rowed powerfully and had a thoroughly enjoyable race despite the strong headwind. The happy and hardworking crew were welcomed home by the boom of a canon, crossing the line at the three hour mark mid-fleet and finishing strongly with a final burst of 10 more, 10 more and yet 10 more strong stokes to overtake several boats, including some men’s teams, in the last leg of the pursuit race.

The team were proud to be flying the Devon Flag.