Admiral of the Port, 11th June 2018

Short Report from the Secretary

This year thirteen crews took part in this marvellous event and what can only be described as a balmy summers evening.  We are grateful to the barge owners at Coin Street Shaol for allowing us to temporarily moor our rowing flotilla offshore alongside until our rowing crews arrived to take control of their boats on the shoreline.  As the crews arrived, our two volunteer RIB’s ferried the rowing boats ashore and our special thanks go to the young people crewing the RIB’s that gave up their free time to help out with our event, making sure that we were well looked after with expert safety and support once more.

After the briefing on the beach at Coin Street Shaol, the crews took to the water and eagerly awaited the turn of the tide.  Fortunately, the water inside the line of barges downstream of Waterloo Bridge was slack and many took advantage of making their final adjustments before being called forward across the main stream and commercial channel toward the start line that was between ‘Londinium lll’ (kindly provided by Port Health once again with our Chairman Guy Brocklebank in charge of starting each Division), and HQS Wellington.

The PLA Traffic Control worked behind the scenes liaising with the Secretary on board ‘Molly Brown’ (provided by Thames Active’s Tony Mason) ensuring that no obstruction was caused to the usual commercial traffic, nor danger to our crews.  Thanks to both the PLA and our crews for your patience and understanding of the reasons we had to wait for what at times seemed to be forever, before crossing and drifting up to the start line.

One RIB was allocated to each of the first two Divisions.  They were given instructions to enforce our agreement reached at the AGM, that all boats abide by the rules of the water in navigating on the right hand side of the river, using the closest available safe arch to the north shore.  To this end (to save bunching up at the bridges), the MENS crews were divided into two groups of four boats, with the winning crew being the one with the fastest time overall.

The volunteers from Richmond Bridge Boathouses and The Ahoy Centre prepared boats for the tow to and from the start line, as did the crew and teams from the Port of London Authority and Port Health to ensure that our day went well.

‘Our Lad’ from Eel Pie Island was crewed by two volunteers from that area to tow the five boats down to the start and back again after the event.  Big thanks to Pierre and Gaz for a long, hot days work.  Arriving back at Richmond and Twickenham between 00:00 and 01:00 is not what most of us would call a ‘pleasant’ experience.  Without these people at each end of the river, our boats would simply not get to the start and back home again.  It’s worth sparing a thought for them all next time we meet.

It was also great to see Malcolm and Ruth Knight again at Westminster Boating Base.  This time in their capacity as our official Time Keepers at the finishing line.  It’s not an easy task, liaising with Guy Brocklebank on the starting line, recording start times, then deducting / adding times between Divisions, and coming up with the right answers each time.  Anyone wishing to help out and see just what is involved is welcome to step forward at any time.  
A brilliant job Guy, Malcolm and Ruth, with good results once more. 

The winners and results are published on our Past Events Page under Admiral of The Port.

Westminster Boating Base did a great job looking after our wants and needs after a long, hot day.  Plenty of good company, good food and well earned drinks were present as the prize giving took place.  This year it was the turn of Sheriff Neil Redcliffe and his wife Mrs, Lynn Redcliffe to award the trophies and certificates to the winning crews.

Port Health and the City of London all played their part in providing Londinium lll and of course our VIP’s on board.  Thank you to Julia Hayden, Jon Averns and Stuart Smith all from Port Health, for pulling it together again.

We are looking forward to the next event, The Port of London Challenge that will be held on Monday 9th July, 2018 starting from Coin Street Shaol once more.

Roger Gould
Secretary and Treasurer for the TTRA