Carrick Rowing Club (CRC) attracted clubs from far and wide for its inaugural Carrick Crusade regatta at Restronguet Sailing Club.

Based out of Ponsharden Shipyard near Falmouth, CRC is the only coastal sliding-seat rowing club in Cornwall, founded in 2020 with support from the National Maritime Museum and home to a growing team of members.

On Saturday, September 14, rowers aged 14 to 74 from eight coastal clubs from across Devon, Dorset and Portsmouth gathered for racing consisting of 4km and 6km courses across the Carrick Roads, often in challenging conditions with rowers battling waves, tides and strong winds.

Coastal rowing is growing in popularity, and will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

Founder members Penny Chuter OBE and Harry Gooby - alongside head of the regatta committee Sally Miller - were the driving force behind getting the regatta off the ground with a detailed action plan and enthusiasm for coastal rowing. Penny is a former British international sculler, and was British Rowing’s first appointed rowing coach for women.

Vice-captain and race co-ordinator Harry Gooby said: “It felt like a real proud and celebratory moment, and the culmination of five years’ hard work setting up the club.

“Everyone said what a resounding success the regatta was. All boats went out, had a great time and successfully returned. It was a great day of teamwork, camaraderie and competition.”

Participating clubs included Plymouth's Mayflower Offshore Rowing Club, Exmouth Rowing Club, River Teign Rowing Club, Torquay Rowing Club, the Barbarians from Studland Bay in Dorset, Greenbank Rowing Club from Falmouth and Dolphin Rowing Club from Hayling Island.

Across the day, 65 boats launched, and 62 medals were awarded for winning crews. CRC won first place in two categories: the Mix C2x (double) and the Mix C4x (quad).

Trophies were awarded for outstanding performance in a ladies’ category and an open category, and The Carrick Sword for the club with the highest points across the racing season.

Bob Cottell from the Barbarians in Dorset described the regatta as “a big-smile event and a great example of how to deliver a coastal rowing event”.

Racing was sponsored by Whistlefish and Polymermedics.