Steve Pipe and Liz Bellot set a new mixed pairs record for the Andrew Mahy Memorial Race. (0462310)

THE increasing popularity of offshore rowing was again emphasised as 26 boats took to the start line for the 8,300m Andrew Mahy Memorial Race, a popular fixture on the Guernsey Rowing Club calendar.

Race conditions were near perfect as early morning fog lifted to make way for a glorious day resulting in course records being broken in six out of seven classes.

Tidal conditions made it necessary for the race organisers to rearrange the start time and have two starts, as opposed to the mass start that is a feature of the particular race.

The men’s and women’s fours boats were first away with all other classes starting two minutes later.

The course took the crews from the start at La Salerie Corner to a turn buoy just off the Vivian Beacon and then across the Little Russel to the Alligande beacon before returning to the finish line in Havelet Bay.

The keen novice crews who have been preparing themselves in the winter months for the challenges ahead were out in force with the Teachers’ Pets boat coming in more than a creditable second to the vastly more experienced BeeT.S crew in the mixed fours.