DW Day 1: 6 Boats Started; 5 ¾ Finished…

...and they're off!

An early start for all, a few early morning nerves, and then they were off! The 6 RHS crews set off on their 125 miles, 4 days marathon. The day started overcast but dry, enabling everyone to get away successfully between 8.30 and 9.00am.

The day proved to be a challenging one, as the weather misbehaved, drenching both the paddlers and support crews for most of the day. The portages proved muddy and difficult, with many crews having a few stumbles and even (sadly for the boats) falls. By lunchtime, it is likely that most of the support crews were as wet as their paddlers, with sideways rain pelting down!

It was good to see Mr and Mrs Blackett throughout the day – both were impressed with the effort required by the pupils and support crews, and we hope that they gained an insight into how demanding DW is for all involved.

Monty and Joe powering along.

Ellie and Lamorna make it easy for the support crews to find them!

All crews completed the day… but not necessarily on the water. Much to our surprise, Alex and Chris ran over the finish line along the towpath, carrying their boat (and they had been running for a mile and a half by that point!). They had had a couple of falls, their rudder came a cropper and they finished rudderless. A couple of other boats also suffered with the conditions, but, thankfully, Mr Thompson had his new tool kit to hand.

Les and his shiney new tool kit.

Will and John achieved the best time of the day (6 hours 17 minutes), so big congratulations to them for doing so well in the bad conditions.

Whilst the paddlers got themselves clean, warm and dry (before they got wet again putting up their tents!), Dr Thompson and Nurse Menday got to work on 4 of the boats – major surgery needed on Alex and Chris’s boat, two more needing attention to their rudders and one foot plate to be fixed. Thanks to the surgical skills of Les and Lee, all boats are in a fit state to go on the water tomorrow.

Dr Thompson and Nurse Menday in the operating theatre.

The report at the end of the day is that all crews found the day tough, but that they were pleased to have completed their first day of the race.

So as our little paddlers feed themselves and snuggle down for the night, the support crews get busy cleaning and drying kit, ready for everyone to do it all again tomorrow… .

Paddlers - 34.5 miles
Support Crew - 41 miles

CM