Andy Chapple and Sarah Stonebridge, the winning FRM mixed crew, are made to look rather insignificant as they row past a cruise vessel during the St Sampson’s to St Peter Port time trial. (Picture by Tim Prout, 0571499)

THE shortest event in the Guernsey Rowing Club calendar still posed crucial questions of the crews as the local season got under way.

Twenty-four boats took on the 3,100m time trial from St Sampson’s to St Peter Port, but the decision taken by competitors – whether to take the shorter route, which is into the tidal stream, or the longer less tidal one sweeping into Belle Greve Bay – can be the difference between the times.

First boat away was women’s pair Wheeler Developments with Margi Jorgensen sitting in an unfamiliar position as a replacement bow rower. That did not prove to be an obstacle as the pairing powered their way to a class-winning time of 18-09, finishing ahead of rivals Geomarine by 1-12.