Scarborough to Whitby Lifeboat Row 2009
Situation Report at 1 July 2009
The Whitby rowers are expected to arrive in Scarborough Harbour at 8pm Wednesday 29 July. Because they are rowing against the tidal flow, they expect to be on passage for 8 hours. There will only be one crew as they are practising for the 22 mile long distance row on the Thames next year, when they hope to take the William Riley with them.
I’ve asked the Yacht Club if they can escort them in, and to escort us out on the Saturday. I’ve also booked the Deputy Mayor and the Town Crier to welcome the Whitby rowers when they arrive – and also to see us off.
It would be good to get some music to back up all this. Hamp’s Tramps are not available. Does anyone know a group that can make a loud noise?
Weather permitting, the Scarborough to Whitby Lifeboat row will take place on Saturday August 1st 2009, departing Scarborough Harbour at 1330hrs, about ½ hour before high water. Crews to assemble by 1300hrs.
ETA Whitby Harbour: 1830hrs.
The lifeboat is the William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington, a double-ended open boat which is 100 years old in late August. She took part in the famous Rohilla hospital ship disaster of 1914 when she was brought 3 miles across the town from Upgang and lowered 400 feet down the cliff below Whitby Abbey to get to the casualty. She has been recently restored by Whitby Historical Lifeboat Trust and will be rowed between Scarborough and Whitby in the wake of the Scarborough Lifeboat that also took part in that rescue.
She is expected to arrive in Scarborough harbour on Wednesday evening 29 July having been rowed from Whitby by the Fishermen’s Amateur Rowing Club.
Commercial sponsors will be invited to see the boat arrive and depart.
Applicants to row must bring sponsorship money although there is no minimum limit at the moment. I am trying for sponsorship from businesses in Scarborough and hope this will cover most of the costs. If it doesn’t, you may be asked to work harder on sponsorship!
Applicants to row must be medically fit and will have to undergo training if inexperienced in oarsmanship.
The lifeboat requires 10 rowers, 1 Bowman, 1 qualified Coxswain and 1 Assistant Cox’n and must be accompanied by a safety boat capable of pulling the 2.5t 34ft long craft.
30 rowers are required in total – three crews of 10 – to be drawn from the Rowing Club, Sub Aqua Club, Scarborough Lifeboat and members of the public. If more people apply, I will create a Reserve List to fill any vacancies on the day and the reserves may have the chance to row the William Riley around the harbour/South Bay on the Thursday or Friday before the event (30/31 July).
Further Sitreps will follow, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me, Eric Russell, Lifeboat Row 2009 Co-ordinator, on 371629 or eric371@btinternet.com
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