On Sunday 3rd April 2022 a flotilla of traditional boats, led by ‘Gloriana’, HRM the Queen’s Row Barge, were once again invited by the organisers of the University Boat Race to row over the course from Putney to Chiswick.
The flotilla was followed by skiffs, Pilot Gigs and the Watermen’s cutters competing in the Oxbridge Challenge racing over the full course.
This was part of the day of events on the River Thames preceding the Boat Races and we were watched by 1000s on the riverbank and who knows millions how many around the world on BBC television.
A crew of 6 from Portishead Pilot Gig club were lucky enough to be invited to participate by rowing a 4 oared gig, kindly loaned to the club by the CFOGA.
Cox David Grant
Rowers Madeleine Wade, Sam Blackmore-Squires, Michael Connor, Phil Trotham and Dickie Gourlay
Having been kindly loaned a trailer by Clevedon Costal, we set off on Saturday to travel up to London and we deposited the gig at University of London Boat Club (after a small and slow detour through some residential streets following the M4 Closure), where we met up with a number of other 4 oared gigs.
On Sunday morning a very clear, but frosty morning greeted us and we headed back to ULBC, where we were joined by the other rowers and support crews, and we had the pleasure of being the first to launch in front of 300 spectators – thankfully we nailed it.
Over the course of the next 30 minutes the flotilla formed up and then we made our way on the first leg of 4.5 miles to meet up with Gloriana, where we moored briefly on the North Bank opposite the boat house where the university crews came out to meet the growing crowds.
Once Gloriana had boarded her crew, we then set off on as a flotilla and we managed to tuck in nicely beside her for the start of the return leg of the row. At various bridges, oars were raised in salute of Gloriana and it was a nice spectacle to see the raised oars and hear the cheers from all the crews.
As we neared the end of our trip and headed back to ULBC, our own small group of 4 oared gigs stayed at the rear of the flotilla and had a little bit of clear water and opportunity to put a little pace into our rowing and suffice to say that the PPGC crew once again showed their capabilities (but it wasn’t a race – honest!).
One we had moored up, helping to get all of the boats clear of the waterline, we had time to have a quick lunch (some could have a well deserved drink) with all the other crews, and a quick dash to the finish line to see the men’s crews finish their race. We packed up, said our goodbyes to new friends and future rowing competitors and headed back to Portishead.
Overall a fantastic weekend a privilege to have been invited to take part in such an auspicious event. Its fair to say the drills and practice that we have put in as rowing and coxing crews in our club stood us in good stead on the day, and we certainly were able to perform well as a club and row safely through the flotilla.
