FORECASTS of bad weather have left an early June attempt at the London to Paris Rowing Challenge hanging in the balance. Organiser Rob Platts said that predicted high winds in the Channel during Tuesday and Wednesday made any start highly unlikely on those days.

But there is a glimmer of hope for a launch on Thursday – the final day of the current window.

‘It might still happen next week but we have to be realistic. Tuesday and Wednesday do not look very favourable but there is a glimmer of hope for Thursday. We just have to keep checking the weather all the time and take it from there,’ said Mr Platts.

Thursday is the last day in the current start window, because both tidal conditions and the amount of daylight need to be right for the final stretch along the River Seine.

After Thursday, the next opportunity to start will be a five-day window from Monday 14 June.

‘The team are not too depressed because most are old campaigners and they know that very few challenges get off the first time. The problem is that this time we need the weather, the tide and the Seine conditions to be good all at the same time.’

Official row sponsors MeesPierson Reads said that the crew were already champions, irrespective of whether they could set off this week.

‘Whatever happens with the weather, we congratulate Colin Fallaize and his team for all the tremendous work they have done in raising money for MS in Guernsey,’ said managing director Michael Ayre.

‘They are excellent ambassadors for the island. We understand how frustrated they must be feeling because of all the training they will have gone through and the hours and hours of preparations they will have undertaken. But their reputations are assured.’