HYGA Winter Series - Mersea #5

An early start with a lift from Liz for a grey and blustery day. The ladies set of first, with an exciting start and the first team ladies in first at the finish. We were all delighted. Until later, when we discovered that a route enfringment caused a disqualification. 

Then the mens' team who did well, as expected. They returned with news that it was very choppy on the far side of the course, marked by witheys round the island. Then the turn for our mixed crew. ... we all rowed hard and long, holding our good start position . Then the witheys; disaster.  5 boats all jostling for the racing line .... we were squashed in the middle with the outer boats not giving us our entitled water; so we unavoidably clashed oars and had to vere off course and stop rowing. When we finally got back on track, we were in very choppy water. Bobbing up and down and side to side, we had to shorten our stroke and power through. Then back on the inside of the island, the water calmed, and with the wind in our favour, we powered to the finish line. The blip was taken of our sprint finish. A fab day and a thrilling race!