Sark to Jersey Rowing Race
/Dixcart Bay, Sark 49°25'21.8"N 2°21'28.1"W to Bonne Nuit Bay, Jersey 49°15'05.4"N 2°07'09.7"W
14.4 Nautical miles ~ 16.5 statute miles ~ 26,700 metres
1967 course route
The Sark to Jersey rowing race was originally the idea of four friends from the Bonne Nuit Boat Owners Association. In 1967, after Sunday lunch at Les Fontaines Tavern on the north coast of Jersey, they looked across the sea to the small neighbouring island of Sark and had a thought… if Chay Blyth and John Ridgeway could row the Atlantic ( a great story see here) it must be possible to row between Jersey and Sark.
The course takes competitors from the start line in Dixcart Bay, Sark, across open water to the Paternosters reef where they turn and follow Jersey’s north coast towards Bonne Nuit Bay. Crews must row round Cheval Rock as they approach before crossing the finish line. By the time they hit dry land they will have rowed about 26km with cross tides and the infamous choppy outfalls off Sark, not to mention any other conditions the weather throws at them.
That summer of 1967 a variety of boats and rowers proved that it was entirely possible to race from Sark to Jersey, with the first crew finishing in just under five hours. However the strength of the challenge was obvious when only 17 of the 58 boats that set off from Sark made it across the finish line.
1968 recounting the previous years race
1968 ; A year later and they’d ditched the illustrated fish for a slightly more informative map…
The Sark to Jersey Rowing race is now the premier sea rowing event in the Channel Islands and a hotly contested but friendly inter-insular island competition attracting competitors from Jersey, Guernsey, France and the UK.
The top crews from both islands will be at the start line but so will many inexperienced teams of friends from workplaces, clubs and families. It is a rare sporting event where novices can race alongside seasoned competitors and still share the same incredible feeling of achievement – no matter how long they’ve taken or how many blisters they have.
We joined the camaraderie in 2008 and 12 years later you will still find us every year at that start line, a little bit apprehensive, a little bit empowered, ready to row.
You see, it isn’t just the distance which makes it a challenge, it’s not even the 60-odd other boats, it’s the beauty of a sport which is so weather inflicted; the exposed channel, the cross tides, the sea fog and the washing machine swells.
Each rowing boat is towed across to Sark by a ‘Guard boat’, who then accompanies you throughout the race back to Bonne Nuit for safety. Every year we are lucky enough to have a different noble stead offer their assistance, such as ‘Seahorse’ in 2018.
In 2019, our guard boat was a smaller RIB captained by our biggest cheerleader Joshie, we set off from Bonne Nuit just after dawn, pushing through the low morning mist across the channel, towing our lovely lady behind us.
Bananas, and buckets. Always be prepared.
Dixart Bay in Sark is a welcome sight, dotted with anchored guard boats, drifting rowing boats and many a rower prepping for the race ahead. We radio though to race control and log in. Picnic on my mums famous secret recipe ‘Power cookies’. Run through the final compass bearings, allowing for wind and tide, with the cox. Set up our rowing boat. Go for a wee.
Jolly support crew goes a long way!
It’s a jostle for the start line, our tactic has always been to try and stay out of the way and avoid clashing with the other 60+ rowing boats all bottle-necking across a 200m start line, a snapped oar won’t get you far!
The starter boat sounds the horn and we are off…
Despite the dense start the 60’odd strong fleet quickly spreads out, and the all too familiar burn of the lungs and the muscles quickly sets in.
It’s a more comfortable race for some…
Two thirds of the way through the race we finally reach the Paternosters, a collection of rocks 6km off the North coast of Jersey.
It starts to get psychological here, your body hurts, and the land feels close but there are still miles to go as you head along the east coast of the island.
Swinging around Cheval Rock and into Bonne Nuit Bay can’t come soon enough, crowds line the pier head to cheer us across the line and the horn signals our efforts are over for another year.
We clamber out of the boat, give each other a sweaty, salty pat on the back and an obligatory ‘after’ photo.
That evening it’s prize giving time; time to compare and share your recollection of the race (and blisters) with the other crews and have a laugh with your own crew about your own trials and tribulations.
I love my tribe, year after year we step up to this challenge together, make time for the training, hold space, respect, love for each other & have each others backs.
We’ve had years with tears, some with vomiting, some with pure pain, a bit of anger, a bit of laughter, a bit of blood, some years we have even taken home a trophy!
This is us moments after clambering out of the boat with a time of 2 hours 14 mins in 2014. We are sweaty and exhausted, but we are also proud as punch - and we hadn’t even been told yet we had been the first female team across the line!
Winning might not happen every year, that’s the beauty of sport, we decided long ago we were in it for the challenge and the team spirit, and every year it gives us that and more.
See you at the start line!
C x
photo courtesy of jersey evening post
