4th August Official Launch of the ACSE Gig The Chairman, Treasurer, Captain of Boats and Minute Secretary, represented the Association at the official launch by Veni Martin of ACSE’s beautiful new gig, ‘An Seabhac Mara’ at Dunmore East This enjoyable event was dampened but not diminished by continuous rain, and was featured in the national Irish media and in Classic Boat magazine.
27th and 28th August Gig Regatta Antrim. Bill and Fay Keppel-Compton attended this spirited event at the Antrim Boat Club, home of AC Northern Ireland . Intégrité and An Seabhac Mara were trailed north to join Harmonie, and two full triangular races, sail and sail and oar, occupied the Saturday of the weekend. Unfortunately, a south-westerly gale blowing straight into the Antrim river, rendered the bar onto Lough Neigh untenable for any Sunday racing other than rowing time trials in the river. Provided the wind is not excessive from the SW, Antrim is a wonderful location for gigs, and the welcome there is always assured
15th September Nelson Funeral Flotilla, London. The re-enactment of the Nelson Funeral Flotilla on Friday 15th September comprised 40 oared craft, each in the role of a livery barge or other escort that took part in the actual funeral procession from Greenwich to Whitehall. Cwch John Kerr was adopted by the Ironmongers’ Company and had the privilege of wearing the Ironmonger’s Standard and carrying (as “mourners”) the Clerk and a recent Master of the Company. Our ensign staff was too small for the resplendent 9ft by 6ft standard, but the mizzen was an ideal substitute, albeit with some anxiety on account of limited clearance under certain bridges. The blustery and choppy conditions were not easy, but the crew ranging in age from 16 to 67 managed without a single caught crab, fortified appropriately by the now traditional Pembrokeshire Gig poncha, elegantly served in cut glass from a silver decanter as we waited off the Greenwich steps for the First Sea lord to take his position at the centre of the procession on The Queen’s Shallot ‘Jubilant’
16th September The Great River Race. Our crew for The Great River Race from Richmond to Greenwich was put together and expertly managed by Alice Wilson. No Atlantic Challenge gig can win prizes in the River Race, because the length-handicap system favours light boats able to row their ‘waterline speed’, not large traditional craft that cannot possibly do so. Nevertheless, Cwch John Kerr managed to overtake 50 other competitors from her late starting position, to complete the race in a creditable 3 hours exactly.
