A very big thankyou if you supported The Row with sponsorship, and/or a message of support. The crowdfunder closes tomorrow - there’s still time to give your support (and it would be fabulous if we made it to £6,000!):

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-royal-row

What a day. The crews left the club at 7.05am, boats in the water by about 7.45am, the first boat home at the club at 3.20pm, the last boat in at 6.10pm. There were family crews (Go The Carneys and The Averys), crews of friends, crews of colleagues, crews who weren’t sure they’d survive a day in a boat together…. They averaged 8.5 hours of rowing/paddling. Just imagine.

Along the way there was weed so thick it tangled the oars, sunburn, blisters, serious sweating and quite a lot of swearing. One boat leaked and sank, another crew ‘got a puncture’ and bailed out water for over 10 miles… one crew cranked up the music, another crew pledged to never, ever mention giving up. And stop moaning or you’re going overboard….

The support van drove miles, swapping oars for paddles and back again. There was singing and laughing and stories told, while friends navigated country roads to drop drinks and sandwiches into boats off bridges, while kids peered through hedges and balanced on the bank. There were kingfishers and ducks and swans and stroppy fishermen, some shifty consumption of rum & coke, random demands for chocolate, quiet moments of enjoyment of a sunny day in a beautiful place… and sheer determination to just keep going .

At the front Braney's, Row Farah, A Very Good Row and Stroke of Genius reached reed/weed free water and took off in jaw dropping displays of teamwork and fitness. In the middle The Flying Manc gained 5 places in under 2 hours. At the back, the support van started delivering care packages.

Are we nearly there yet?

How far is it, really?

Hythe Food Festival started to give shout outs for our crews.

At the Club the Saturday XI played on. The queue at the bar was 5 deep, the awesome bar team kept smiling and kept going, burgers were munched, many small people did much jumping on the bouncy castle, dogs wandered, and there were outbreaks of applause/delight/relief from friends, family and brilliant loyal club members who gathered to welcome the crews home.

And the boats at the back? They didn't give up. Huge respect to 4 Folc-ing Idiots and Boat Life for crossing the finish line.

Club Manager Tobie Davies made coffee for the crews at 6.30am, and was still going, still solving problems and still smiling 14 hours later. AW Construction MD Tom Locke loaded boats at 6.45am, saw everyone safely on the bus, saw every boat safely into the water, paddled for 8 hours and 23 minutes, got out, shouted drinks for volunteers and crews, and sorted out boats again, all the while quietly smiling over so many people having a good day. Andy B, Football Section Chair and Grovellers Manager, oldest crew in The Row, rowed all the way. Talk about leading by example.

Some serious thank yous are definitely in order:

To the BBQ crew, and AW Construction staff Karen Checksfield and Dan Jones. To Karen for all the risk assessing, licence applications, admin, EA /Council Liasion, BBQ organisation, and classy taste in high viz jackets. To Dan for excellent support crewing in the van on the day.

To Hythe Town Council, Hythe Venetian Fete Committee, The Environment Agency, the Ruckinge/Appledore farming community, and Folkestone & Hythe District Councillors for the Member Ward Grant.

To HCSC Club Members and AW Construction contractors for their wonderful generosity: UC Build, The Hireman Ltd, Davies Refurbishment, Brown & Brown, GPR Kent, Modus Construction Consultants, KHR Company Ltd, Newton & Frost Fencing Ltd, LDD Construction.

And finally to Tom Locke who initiated, managed and made The Royal Row happen, and the AW Construction staff who crewed boats. An awesome effort, on a wonderful, inspiring day. This is ‘community participation in sport’ at its absolute best.

Want some evidence there is still kindness and generosity and fun in the world? Browse the comments from supporters on our crowdfunder:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-royal-row