Docks head February 2003

Marlow's young Vets ventured out once again to the postponed Docks Head on the 9th of Feb. Racing in the 09:30 division presented the delight of leaving MRC in the dark at 06:30. MS-J having to dodge large puddles and a herd of Roe deer in his efforts to be there on time. JY, meanwhile, travelling from the other side of Marlow Bridge still arrived late!
The actual journey to the Docks wasn't too eventful, with a scenic tour of the M40/A40 and central London (oh, and a slight navigational error approaching the regatta centre). With unusual efficiency for veteran oarsmen the boats were swiftly rigged, though this may have had something to do with the cold and (slightly) damp weather.

Starting off at the dizzy height of 6th and 7th in the first division the crews were relatively clear of the log jam at the start while the marshals waited for the top boats to arrive. Once off the start the Vet 'B' 4 (Iain Pressling, Simon Huntley, John Yeatman, Mike Spencer-Jones) headed for the shelter of the airport dock wall , with the Vet C 4 (Richard Coles, Mark Billingham, Tony Ellis. Ed House) hot on their tail, to gain the benefit of the completely flat water (even though it was only a slight breeze). It also gave them the opportunity to give the W S28o in front a wide berth. A long string of boats following the same course.
Settling into a good rhythm rating 32 the Vet B crew started to pull away from the Vet C boat around the 750m mark, the knowledge that the Vet C crew had an 18 second handicap advantage pushing them on. Wary of the narrow gap between the Royal Albert and Royal Victoria dock, Ed steered out into lanes 4/5 early. Mike, being slightly braver (and aware of a quad just in front) left it slightly later. Entering the channel between the docks, both crews were alarmed to hear a very loud crash in front of them as the Curlew quad ploughed into the wall of the narrower part of the channel, snapping at least one sculling blade in the process. Luckily we weren't following directly behind.
After the buoyed and distance marked 2km course, the final 1km in the Victoria Dock seemed like a wilderness, with only the occasional large buoy and distant banks to assist navigation. With 750m to go disaster almost struck the B crew when stroke's backstay sheared off just behind the gate. Luckily it fell onto the rest of the rigger, and not into the water, and the crew survived to sprint under the finish bridge by the Excel centre.
Finishing as fastest coxless 4 made up a bit for losing to the 47 second handicap the Vet D crews had!