Chris the Coast Walker, Adventuring with Weybridge RC/ Wayfarers, a Liteboat Trial to the Isle of Wight and a special encounter with a curious seal
September has whizzed by and we have been busy teaching the Learn to Row Programme, leading the RowFit and Row Social Sunset sessions and have squeezed in some last minute Sunday night adventures as the weather has been so ideal. We’ve brought together new friends and spurred interest in getting out on the water, even as the days begin to cool.
We intend to continue our programmes throughout the colder months and can recommend appropriate kit to help continue making the ‘light wind’ rows comfortable and enjoyable. Some of the best sessions can be found through the winter on cold crispy blue days.
Jane and I are summarising our first 4 months of amazing water time and are busy planning what’s next, both in the short term and long term so watch this space…and if you see us, do come and say HI!
Chris the Coast Walker
We welcomed Chris the Coast Walker in early September when he arrived in Lymington 1,000 miles into his 11,000 mile walk around the British Coastline for BBC Children in Need. A fellow rowing coach (at Cantabs, Cambs), Chris enjoyed a gentle sunset row with us before a hearty warm meal and an early night. I’d like to thank Hurst Castle for also hosting Chris for a night’s sleep in the Lighthouse Cottage which would have been a very unique experience.
British Rowing are following Chris’ progress for Children in Need and have posted an interesting interview on their Social Media.
Sunset in Lymington Sept 2020
Sunrise as Chris leaves Hurst Spit on route to Bournemouth and the South West Coast Path.
Weybridge and Wayfarers RC
Caroline and John, the BR Recreational Row leaders for Weybridge and Wayfarers RC visited us last month to trial the Glide Solo and the Glide Solo + and recently returned to Lymington again with 9 eager adventurers. We had a fabulous day on the water in what felt like the last moments of summer heat. Our route took us east towards Sowley Beach for a socially-distanced picnic and a swim. Great to meet new rowing friends and share our gorgeous coastline with them.
Sowley Beach
Liteboat Trial
Jane and I had a relaxed 90 min row over to Newtown Creek, Isle of Wight in our LiteBoats, supported by our families on Molly 5, a Maldives 32 catamaran. We trialled the recovery and launch via tender whilst moored up in Newtown in readiness for adventures in the future. After a delicious lunch, we set out on our return journey with wind over tide for a lively journey back- lifejackets ON! It was an amazing experience riding the waves, each stroke requiring concentration and balance…the LiteBoats served us extremely well in those conditions, getting us back soggy and exhilarated in 105 minutes. Can’t wait to try it again!
LiteRace Bow wave drama. GoPro8.
LiteRace and LiteSport in action, buoyancy aids on, support boat nearby!
Sunrise Encounter with the Lymington Seal
The Lymington Times have covered a story on our encounter with a ‘cheeky seal’… I hasten to add that in many years of rowing in this area it is a rare thing to see a seal. This encounter was truly magical. This is a ‘nod’ to our friend Dave.
A PLAYFUL seal delighted early morning rowers in Lymington River on Monday – when it hopped aboard for a spot of sunbathing.
The cheeky creature, who was spotted by Lymington Rowing Club coach Kirsten Melin and her companion Andrew, spend several minutes sunbathing on the front of their rowing boats before following the pair along Lymington River.
Kirsten, who teaches the Learn to Row programme and leads adventures with the Lymington based company Rowing Adventures Ltd, has spotted seals in the river before but has never enjoyed such a close encounter.
She said: “We saw a seal in the quay and again in the river over the ‘quiet’ summer and it has approached the boat once before – but we hadn’t really had time to stop for long enough to allow the seal to relax.”
“We had gone out for a sunrise row on Monday morning because we were unable to join one of our college friends Pete who is undertaking a charity bike in Wales, to mark the end of his cancer treatment and in memory of Dave, also a college friend, who passed away during lockdown– because of the restrictions on groups of six and local lockdowns.”
“We let Pete know that we would be getting involved by going for a sunrise row instead – and then this really amazing and special thing happened.”
When the pair first spotted the seal in the Pylewell area of the river it spent time playing a few metres away from them before plucking up the courage to get closer and eventually climbed aboard both of their boats.
Kirsten said: “The seal was really intrigued by us and seemed very friendly. It enjoyed sunbathing on the front of our boats and I think it would have happily stayed there all day.”
The creature, which was likely to be a common seal or harbour seal, was fairly small and it was tagged. She said: “Our boats are bright green and sit shallow in the water with a low stern deck so it’s relatively easy to climb aboard”.
“We did notice that when the ferry was passing it left us but then reappeared a few moments later.”
“When it was time for us to head back we gently urged it off the deck and it then followed us up the river, swimming in the wake and playing in the wash from our blades.”
How rude! (This was pre yawn…!)
Checking me out!
Nice blade work
Swimming alongside
