A TAVISTOCK man's dream of rowing to the Eddystone lighthouse was realised this weekend when teams of amateur rowers set out from Plymouth on a record breaking marathon to the well known, if little visited, landmark off the West Country coast.
Tony Lovering, 39, first envisaged a race around the rocks some 14 miles into the English Channel, four years ago during the 400th anniversary of the first light being placed on the treacherous reef to warn passing vessels of their danger and exact location.
Three vessels eventually took to the water on Saturday morning. There were two boats from Exmouth Rowing Club and one from Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club, skippered by Tony Lovering. He was joined by fellow crewmembers Paul German, 38, from Tavistock, John Boston, 36, from Yelverton, Dave Parr, 32 from Yealmpton, with Tavistock's Laurence Pawlik as their coxswain.
Just minutes from the starting gun one of the Exmouth boats had to retire after one of the rowing support welds failed.
Taking the starting gun at 11.20am off the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club the two 35-foot super lightweight vessels headed across Plymouth Sound, passing the breakwater, and out into the rough and unpredictable English Channel.
Weather conditions were far from ideal beyond the safety of the breakwater with a strong southwesterly wind whipping up some nasty breaking waves.
The two boats were escorted by a small flotilla of support craft, including Tavistock's Paul Radgick with his Sigma 33, 'Fire Storm Too', taking the press and the event doctor to ensure the safety of the teams.
All crews worked tirelessly into the pounding swell, but some two miles short of their goal it became clear the Exmouth crew were beginning to suffer from exhaustion. Rowers on both craft were being seasick.
A new waypoint was agreed a few 100m from the lighthouse and both vessels turned back towards the finishing line with the Plymouth boat just ahead. Exmouth's problems were exacerbated further when their coxswain had to be removed to a supporting vessel and their crew had to retire and be taken in tow by Paul Radgick's 'Fire Storm Too'.
The Plymouth crew with Tony Lovering in command were still determined to finish the challenge.
Despite sickness and extreme cold they crossed the line 6 hours 27 minutes and 10 seconds after they started, to the loud cheers and applause of the proud, admiring group of family and friends gathered on the shore.