GEOMARINE’S mixed four made light work of heavy winds to set a new record in the Guernsey Rowing Club’s second race of the season. Over a three-lap, 10km course in a breezy Havelet Bay – completed by all 21 entrants – the winners crossed the line in 47min. 47sec.

The boat, built locally over the winter, is delighting both the rowers and the designer, Wedd Osmond.

Their nearest rivals in that class, Stainless Steel Fabrications, hoping to avenge the previous week’s defeat, suffered a setback before the race began.

While warming up in Havelet, they ploughed into a singles boat and shattered an oar and outrigger. Not having time to get a spare oar and effect repairs, they decided to row the race with Lloyd Le Page using only one oar. They completed the course in a creditable 51min. 48 sec.

In the men’s fours, club veterans Hash Anchors had a welcome return to winning ways, beating Wave Telecom by just eight seconds.

Quayside Marine held off Skips ‘R’ Us to take third, with the two novice crews scrapping it out for fifth and sixth.

On this occasion Andre Duquemin’s crew won the tussle in a very respectable 59min. 8secs.

In the women’s race, The Ship & Crown proved the strongest in the windy conditions, beating the Island Girls and the Scullery Maids into second and third respectively.

In men’s pairs, Tim Prout and Karl Pedersen managed to reverse the defeat they suffered the previous week at the hands of Ian Atkinson and Geoff Gavey. Their impressive time of 48min. 04 secs was the second-fastest of the day, beating all the men’s fours.

Joseph Paul made amends for his third place last week, coming home in the men’s singles ahead of Paul Montague in second and Matt Harradine in third.

The conditions were tough for novice rowers, even more so for those in singles boats. Both Paul Isaacs and Steve Desmond rowed well and as they continue to get to grips with the sport they will certainly be challenging the more experienced rowers.

Paula Evemy continues to develop as a singles rower, but she is literally in a class of her own this year.

The next race is the Guernsey to Herm which takes place on Saturday 15 May at 3pm.

This is one of the shorter races on the calendar, at just over five and a half kilometres.