Shanklin's day trip to Southampton!

Following three very successful opening regattas to the Hants and Dorset season, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club made their traditional early saturday morning start for the fourth installment of the 2017 Hants and Dorset ARA season - Milford Regatta. The championship leading Ladies Junior Pair and Sculls, Mens Junior Four, Mens Senior Pair and rowers in all three Mens Sculling status's were set to race on the day.

Disaster struck with shocking realisation however as half way across the solent the club recieved news that rough seas and a further deteriorating forecast had seen Lymington Rowing Club cancel their home regatta on safety grounds.

After reaching Southampton and soon being informed that school holiday demand wouldn't see the club back on a ferry until 6pm the club made the most of a bad situation and made the same journey they had done the week before - to the home of Itchen Imperial Rowing Club!

Not wanting to waste the day sulking about not being able to race and with all the equipment on the roof of the club van, the club rigged up the boats and went afloat on the River Itchen in Southampton! Enjoying a successful morning training session along the 5 kilometre stretch of water and with the kind lending of single scull from BTC Southampton Rowing Club, the day had been far from wasted!

Club members spent the rest of the day enjoying a meal at West Quay, a browse around the shops before a few games of pool at BTC Rowing Club before finally getting the ferry home!

Lymington Rowing Club have stated they will run the regatta later in the season with a date yet to be confirmed - we at Shanklin understand how difficult it is to make difficult decisions regarding the weather on regatta days and will endeavour to support the reorganised event!