After London's Great River Race, our very own Castle to Castle (or C2C) Race is the highlight in our rowing calendar. The 20km course begins at Beaumaris and threads its way through the Menai Straits to finish on the Foryd shoreline in Caernarfon. As this is a linear race, finishing in a different location to the start, much planning and organisation goes in beforehand to ensure all boats, rowers, safety boats and support teams are in the right place to start the race and also recover efficiently at the end. This is in addition to the normal catering, registration, cox briefing, hosting activity that has to go on.
All hands to work to get the boats onto the beach at Beaumaris
In all, 21 Celtic Longboats, 2 Pembrokes, 1 Yole and a Skiff took part coming from as far afield as Port Seton in Scotland.
No doubting where they come from!
The field assembles
Conditions seemed reasonable for the start, cloudy but bright with a fresh breeze blowing. Once on the water however and lining up for the start, things were different with a heavy chop and the wind making positioning and holding position into wind a real challenge. Thankfully though we were away first time at 1245 and the field soon began to spread out. The choppy conditions made hard going for all but especially the yole who relies on flat water for speed - it looked a lonely task for the rower.
As we entered the straits proper the water flattened somewhat allowing the yole to make up ground. As timings intended, all negotiated the Swellies at slack water with no problem. Water conditions varied throughout the course and on rougher sections, those in bow seats had to struggle to bite the water with their blades whilst being tossed about and receiving repeated soakings; those in stroke seats continued oblivious.
First boat in was Fleetwing of Porthmadoc in 2 hours 11 minutes with others following until the last at 2 hours 42 minutes.
Fleetwing crossing the line at Caernarfon
With this our biggest field yet, the C2C was a resounding success despite some rough conditions and the odd soaking. Thanks to all who travelled to take part and all those who work behind the scenes to bring it all together.
Full race results can be found at the link below:
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