NEWS FLASH - 07/07/2011

As many of you will know by now, the French Authorities managed to scupper our attempts to row the channel recently in stating that 'people powered vessels' could not generate enough speed to get out of the way of large shipping.  We all know that would not be an issue as our Safety Crew and boats would either have called the event off for bad weather or advised the rowing boats to hold position or alter course long before any such incident became likely.

Also, the boats have to be self-baling.  We don;t know what that means let alone of any rowing boats that meet that criteria, so time will tell if we intend continuing with our attempts at London to Paris or not.

Getting away from that, our first ever Tidal Thames Challenge will now take place with a 14 person crew on 28th July 2011 from North Foreland to Richmond, Surrey.  The rowers are specially invited people.
Our new website is www.extremerowingchallenges.com  Why not take a look and see if you are interested enough to take the challenge yourself!

The prices listed on another blog entry have had to be re-assessed as the cost have also altered since our first guess at what might need covering.

Roger G

Our latest events - continued!

Well that's commitment!


I have just taken a massive step for me!  I have bought the replica Carbon Fibre Cornish Pilot Gig Tiger from www.woodvale-challenge.com


We can now run our own events without having to rely on other people for a boat to use.
Take a look at our website too for other events that we intend utilising her on.  The site has had a facelift already and has lots more information on it - along with some music that you may, or may not like!  Take a look and let me know!!  www.london2paris2london.com


There's also another photograph on there.  This time of CRUSH.  The Safety RIB owned by www.thamesworkboats.com  She is available for hire for many jobs up and down the rivers and into the English Channel.  They also have a 45' Nelson Cruiser that will be used as our number one Safety Boat on all of our rowing Challenges.  She has berths on board for 12 people; has showers and toilets; full equipped galley and rest / ward room.


Here's a photo of CRUSH to whet your appetite.

She too can carry 12 people up to 20 miles from a 'safe haven'.  Ideal for Channel Crossings where we are never more than 20 miles from shore in one direction or the other.

Thanks to Richard Bain of www.thamesworkboats.com for the photo.

OUR LATEST EVENTS!

Our latest Challenge Announced at last!

In late June 2011 we intend holding our first ever "Roger Gould Tidal Thames Challenge" events.

We are hoping that the Carbon Fibre Replica Cornish Pilot Gig, Tiger presently on loan from WoodVale Challenge, http://www.woodvale-challenge.com will still be available to row from Richmond, Surrey to North Foreland on the Kent coast.  This is only the outbound leg.

The event will then be run in reverse by separate crews.  So, you can row it out of town, or back into town again!  The choice is yours!  Check out the website and get your application form filled in.

We intend to repeat this process each month until the end of October 2011.  We intend starting the season again in May 2012 until October 2012.  If you can't afford the time or money to complete the London to Paris to London events, why not try this one instead for a fraction of the time and money?  Sure it's not quite the same distance, but then again, you're not rowing an Ocean either if you do London to Paris to London!

As usual, there is a non-refundable deposit.  This time it is £75! 

Take a look at the website for full details.  There will be trophies awarded annually for the fastest team in either direction during that year.

Also, you can just row the distance to raise money for your charity of choice in no particular time at all!  Just complete the course...

Get in touch soon because the clock is ticking on this one!  Get your team together and get your forms in asap!!

The new website is live as of today!

Well,

   It's been a long while coming but at last we have our very own website to advertise our presence on the planet.  Check us out at http://www.london2paris2london.com and see what you think.  

As it's a new site, I am open to any feedback from you guys about it.  Anything I should add that you need to know about?  Let me know.

  Anyone interested in the events can now download information and application forms directly from the site.

    There is also a link to Nicola's email so that you can ask about her photography from the 2010 event and to book her for your important events.  She's an EXCELLENT photographer with an ever growing resume for various sporting and civic events.

    We have just been tasked to provide assistance for yet another Channel crossing later in the year too, so if any of you want to simply cross the Channel as opposed to rowing London to Paris, or London to Paris and back again - or indeed if you want to take on any other extreme rowing challenge, let me know and we'll see what the possibilities are for you.  We take on all kinds of enquiries relating to extreme rowing events and challenges and if we cannot help you ourselves, we know someone that can!!

Roger G
Atlantic Rower 1997 & 2011.

The 2011 trip still has a few places left...

Anyone still interested in taking part in our first ever Challenge should get in touch ASAP as there are only a few places left.

Our trip, scheduled to set off from Westminster Bridge on May 28th 2011 is going ahead at full steam with entrants taking full advantage of the vastly reduced price for entry. Next year, the full on Challenge between at least two teams will take place but at full price.
To take advantage of the less than half price cost this year, email me for an application form at rogergould@btconnect.com

Still available are also applications from individuals or teams for next years London to Paris to London Challenges too. We are intending to hold more than one Challenge next year and also looking to take on other Challenges with several cross Channel bookings already in hand and other enquiries for similar trips in the planning stages. So, if you have any ideas for fund raising or charity events in general that involve long distance rowing events in particular, just ask and we will give our advice and help with making your event a success.

Recruiting a crew for London. To Paris and return for May 28th 2011!

Interested in making the trip ahead of anyone else?

Reply to me on rogergould@btconnect.com with your details and I will let you know our planned event.

This is a one off chance to be part of the first crew to make the trip. The price will be reduced to allow this to go ahead at short notice.

Applicants must be able to write off the dates to cover a 16 day period from May 28th, 2011 and preferably have some rowing experience as there is little or no time to train a novice.

Ideally, we are recruiting a team of twelve people. Male or female. It does not matter which.

Still interested? Give me an email! Now!!

Roger G
Atlantic Rower, 1997 & 2011.

Thanks to you all for your good wishes

Just a few lines to say how pleased I am to be back and be able to read all of your messages that were left on the WoodVale site during my recent Atlantic Ocean rowing trip. I am pleased to report that I enjoyed the experience although I would not be rushing to do it again with such a large crew. The differences of intentions of some of the rowers was only evident after some days at sea. Most of us were out to break a record, but at least four people were there to make an Ocean crossing and not interested in making the record come true.
That being said, we all realised that the boat could not reach the speeds needed to break the record anyway! For some reason or other, the boat did not go much faster than 7 knots at the very best! Much of the time we could only manage 3 knots. Only at the end did we manage to get her going flat out. That was mainly because of the trade winds and currents kicking in.

Back now with full time concentration on the London to Paris to London rowing Challenges. Our plans for the recce trip during June are pressing ahead in spite of my temporary absence, and I must express my thanks to the Rievers 12 crew for their constant understanding during my time away. I appreciate there have been times when communications were impossible and now I am back at the helm, my eye will be firmly on the ball!

I will try to thank all those of you that sent personal messages to me once I have finished reading them all.

Best wishes,
Roger G.
Atlantic Rower 1997 & 2011.

Postponement of Presentation 6th March 2011

ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSTPONEMENT OF PRESENTATION 6TH MARCH 2011



Roger's delay in starting his Atlantic Challenge has meant that he will be unable to attend, we have been anticipating his efforts and hoping that he will be back in time to make his presentation. For those of you tracking his progress it has become increasingly apparent he will not even be on dry land at the time of the event on 6th March.



Due to a high demand in SW England through Cornish Gig Clubs it has been decided that we will run a presentation in a more convenient location for the Gig Clubs. Falmouth Maritime Museum has been mentioned to us. The date and location of which is still to be announced and will wait upon Roger's return.



Taking these things into consideration I have taken the hard decision to postpone this event.

I apologise if this delay causes any problems but assure you that a future date will be set and we will update this site with the details when they are formalised.

Chris Gould
(On behalf of Roger somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a small boat)

Further progess for us all

Roger, now on his way and is making such progress westward across the Atlantic. Battling following seas of up to 3 metres high. Communications have been made between the boat and shore side and whilst everyone is sending messages to loved ones Roger has said....."Are we nearly there yet?"

Uncanny as this may seem, I bet if he has started this chanting, this far into the journey (3days) after another 30, the rest of the crew must be thinking about launching the Life raft and casting him adrift!

Whilst Roger battles the sun and heat, the London 2 Paris team are bounding on with preparations for the recce in May. This morning saw another trial with the Reivers 12 team using the Gig "Tiger" at one of the warmest places in England, Gravesend.

Whilst rowing in 30 degrees in the Mid-Atlantic was in the back our minds, we battled 35 knot winds and temperatures of around 5 centigrade. Mind, we should be comforted by the fact that we stepped back into the warm only 2 hours later and had some real coffee from McDonald's. All of which are not available to the guys who are quite frankly risking all for the World Record. Roger, we are all thinking of you and wish you the best for the rest of the crossing.

Everyone has their own reason for doing such a challenge. Some for charity, some for personal achievements, some for the experience, some for the rush of adrenaline. It is hard to understand why anyone would want to do such foolish challenges but what I can say is that what ever your reason you have to take part to know why.

Last year the Gravesend L2P team raised nearly £90,000 for charity. Proceedings went to a local Charity, the Lions Hospice. My grandfather was a resident in the Lions Hospice during L2P 2010 and was slowly loosing his fight with cancer. He was proud to say to the other residents that his new boat the "Sea Echo" was following the challenge and providing much needed support. Leslie, fought his battle until the challenge was over and we had all returned safely back to England. We all visited the hospice to let him know of our amazing experience. It wasn't that much longer after that Leslie passed away.

It was my Grandfather that got me into rowing and whilst I starting to train for one of the oldest rowing races in the world, The Doggett's coat and badge, I never took part. I could almost say that I am disappointed that I lost out of this chance, which is only open to Thames Apprentice Watermen. I can only say that organising the London 2 Paris challenge has inspired me to look at rowing in a different light and I am now organising such a race with my grandfather looking over me. Maybe one day I will take a row boat over this course and of course in aid of him.

What is your reason?

We landed at Denton Wharf, Gravesend, where the "Tiger" was lifted from the river and placed onto her new trailer. Purpose built for the London 2 Paris challenge, the single bunk roller trailer has the ability to transport "Tiger" anywhere in the country. Teams can now have more flexibility in their training areas. Over the next week, Tiger will be having some remedial work carried out and then transported to the Reivers 12 training grounds.

The Trailer built by De Graff trailers who are renown bespoke builders of trailers. They have actively built trailers for many of Britain's Olympic rowing teams. We have used their expertise to build us a trailer that will in future be able to double bunk a second Gig when the time comes.

The "Tiger" will be making an appearance in Kingston on the 6th March 2011 for the presentation event. Anyone wishing to Trial the Gig before entering the event is more than welcome to attend the meeting, all we ask is that you make us aware that you will be there.

Further developments with the challenge have been slow however nonetheless challenges for cross channel events are still progressing.

Don't forget that we cater for more than just London to Paris attempts. Plans are also afoot from other UK ports to France and, of course, the typical Dover-Calais attempt. If you have an idea and wish to talk to us about a challenge we can offer you safety, support and expertise.

Richard Bain

L2P2L Safety and Support

richard@thamesworkboats.com

Our start date is soon...

AnyOne who can read a weather chart for our area of the world will see that this coming weekend shows unprecedented good weather over a really wide area of the Atlantic Ocean. We have been waiting in the Canaries for three weeks for a change in the weather, hoping for a slight change.
This weekend is THAT period, and the change is not slight. It is HUGE!
The trade winds that usually kick in at around 14' 45" North and are 200 miles wide, are spread out over a 3000 mile wide band from the Canaries to their normal southern limits. Sailors here are saying they have NEVER seen them so wide and so strong. Predictions are for 20 - 25 knot following winds and 3 meter seas all the way across. We may not need to deviate south at all to pick up those trades.
Our spirits are from zero to hero in one step! Apparently, this high pressure system is SO strong that the sailing fraternity are placing an over 85% certainty on it remaining there for our entire crossing! That is phenomenal!
Let's hope we don't get up too much speed and start surfing too hard! The only danger will be that of pitchpoling down big seas. (For the uninitiated, this happens when a boat runs head-long down a big wave and goes beyond 90' from the vertical, and it rolls end over end).

Here's hoping!

Thanks to Richard for stepping in to the control of London to Paris to London while I am away "enjoying myself"!

Regards,
Roger G

Rogers Atlantic Row

Three London rowers are about to embark on a challenge from Gran Canaria to Barbarbados. To beat the record they need to complete the crossing in under 33 days.

If you check out http://www.itv.com/london/rowing-record92308/ and you might see someone you will recognise.

I will try to keep you all updated on Rogers progress while he crosses the Atlantic but I am limited to the information from the www.woodvale-works.com so keep checking it out and hope they cross swiftly and safely.




The London2Paris2London Challenge is, of course, still pushing on in Rogers Absence. We are awaiting the first trial oar for the Gig before we puch on and get the rest made.

We have had a few more people come forward to register interest in the challenge but may I remind you all that your first payment confirms your place in one of our Coded Pilots Gigs. You may attend our Presentation on the 6th March 2011 at the Royal Twickenham Canoe Club but again please get your names on the list of attendees.

If you wish to register your interest, please email Roger as soon as possible. Your email will be picked up by the office. rogergould13@gmail.com


Thames Workboats, (the company suppling the challenge with safety boat and support during the event) have now taken ownership of a 7 metre Rib. The vessel is coded for 11 passengers and will be providing you with that reassurance that you need should anyone find themselves in the water. The vessel was chosen for its ability to carry passengers, reach a speed of 40knots quietly and low emmissions from it's reknown engine.

If you would like to see the vessels Thames Workboats own and supply for the challenge take a look on www.thamesworkboats.com

For now

Richard Bain
L2P2L Safety and Support
07890 886369
richard@thamesworkboats.com

We're here - and still waiting to go!

We arrived in time last week and have been held up with paperwork and poor weather. There is another large crew that set off the other day without providing any paperwork or getting permission from the authorities out here. This has created a real poor attitude toward all Ocean Rowers by the local government officials. Although we have provided more paperwork and insurance than is asked for, we have been told that we MUST. Have a support boat for our crossing. Now whe do you find one of those at this late hour. Never before has an independent rowing boat been asked for this level of cover. However, if we leave from Gran Canaria we need no such documentation or support boat! How crazy is that?
Our start is now set for this coming weekend instead of today - and it will be from Gran Canaria instead of La Gomera. That means packing up all of our belongings and our boat / equipment and transporting it all over to that island. No mean feat. So when some of the future London to Paris to London Challengers tell me they are being messed around with arrangements, I'll have a little chuckle to myself and think. 'You don't know what being messed about is yet'! I will understand however the frustration felt when you pay for something that doesn't always the precise way you expected it to. I am still making adjustments in my every day life that allow for things happening in a different way than I expect. It helps to keep a sense of humour.

We have some members of our crew that are to date 'fine boat rowers'. It showed tonight when we had our first row together as a crew at sea - in the dark. One particular member was SO STRESSED by others inability to keep time in rough conditions that they shouted instructions in such a vicious way that I laughted out loud! That person won't be very annoying after 30 days at sea... I feel a swift punch in the kidneys coming on...I am sure they will mellow once the reality of being at sea sets in. Things are not as simple out there as keeping time, and not catching a crab, or correct recovery done at a set time. Good times ahead.

Our project progresses nicely too for the London to Paris to London row in 2012. We now have our recce crew ready for their row in June 2011. The coding for e Cornish gigs is going well too and we hope the MCA will get back to us really soon wi their observations on Richard's hard work.

Wish us luck - and follow us on www.woodvale-works.com There is a tracker on our boat that will give out our positions as we move.

Happy New Year and so long for a while!

As the title suggests, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and to sign off for a while as I set off for La Gomera to go for a paddle on the mighty Atlantic Ocean...
I set out from Gatwick on Monday morning at VERY early o'clock and then, after a week or so of familiarisation on the boat and weather permitting, we'll set ofF on January 12th for Barbados.

Richard Bain will take over the technical side of enquiries and my wife Christina, will handle all other enquiries from the office until I get back. Email for Richard is richard@thamesworkboats.com Just send your emails to me as usual at rogergould@btconnect.com
You will get an out of office reply, but your emails will be read and any actions needed will be taken straight away.

Wish me luck. Be back soon!

Roger G