Cambridge win in cross-Channel rowing challenge

Six teams from Cambridge and Oxford colleges and an additional team representing the event sponsor, Deloitte, made history in becoming the first crews ever to race across the Channel, with Lady Margaret Boat Club of St John's College, Cambridge, reigning triumphant.

Crews set off on the gruelling 21-mile journey from Shakespeare Beach in Dover. They crossed one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, negotiating both tidal conditions and the cross-Channel cargo ships and ferries, to arrive at Sangatte in France after more than three hours of competitive rowing.

The crew from Lady Margaret Boat Club won the race with a time of three hours 37 minutes, followed closely by the First & Third crew from Trinity College, Cambridge, who completed the challenge only three minutes behind them

Commenting on the crossing, race organiser Naomi Longworth said: "We thought it would take over four hours to complete the race but with wind speeds of six knots we had optimal conditions. We are now awaiting confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records as to whether we have set a new record.

“We liaised closely with the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation before the race and each crew had a pilot's boat with them to ensure their safety. Although the wind conditions were ideal, the tidal stream equated to being pushed two knots back towards Dover every hour, which demonstrates the scale of the achievement today.”

Crews trained hard for the race in order to tackle the demands of ocean rowing, aware that only 20 successful rowing attempts had been made across the Channel since the 1960s.

“The vision and hard work of the crews and organisers has cemented this unique event in history,” Ms Longworth added. “We hope this will become a regular fixture in the sporting calendar. Our aim was to raise awareness of rowing as a sport and funds for Cancer Research UK through our website, and we hope our achievements this week continue to build support for both these causes.”