Decision on Entry Fee almost finalised!

Well,
The latest rounds of talks regarding our costings for boat builds and hectic meetings to discuss the overall pricing for the return trip has resulted in what I hope will be the final cost of the event for each crew.

Those wanting to row one way or the other will probably be £3,250 plus VAT each.  (£3,900 after VAT @ 20%). 

Those wanting to make the trip both ways will be asked for a full fee one way BUT would get a 50% reduction on the return fee.  So, your fee is likely to be around £5,850 per person after VAT.
Of course this will depend on having enough people to crew one boat each way.  We need however, crews of 12 to do the both way trip or it won't work at all. 

For that reason, we'll be asking for a slight increase in the deposit too if you express the desire to go both ways.  The difference is, that a proportion of that will be refundable now if we do not get enough entries for the each way trip.  We feel that if it is your fault that you drop out, then you lose your deposit, but if it is unavoidable due to lack of entries to make a complete return crew and we have to cancel a boat, then you will get your return deposit back (plus of course any other money you have paid in for the return trip).
That's only fair on everyone, because if one person decides to drop out of a both ways crew, the remaining crew would have difficulty but still be able to continue on.  If three or more dropped out though, it would be even more difficult to continue as the question of crew rest between rowing stints would be decreased considerably too.  We'd have to consider the enormous burden placed on a diminished crew and decide if it would be safe to continue.

Let me know what you think about this idea.  I need to know your thoughts!  We are hoping to make this as inexpensive and open to all comers as possible - but you need to be seriously interested and able to make the physical and financial commitment. 

Have you got what it takes?  Email me on rogergould@btconnect.com for more information...