The Julius Baer crew in action during the Sark to Jersey race. (Picture by Mark Windsor)

FRM negotiated their way out of trouble to claim the men’s four title in a dramatic 10th and final race of the Guernsey Rowing Club’s 2009 Championship series.

In the only class where the overall championship result was in doubt going into the 16km Havelet to Rocquaine race, FRM (pictured) needed to finish fourth or better to secure the trophy, but second-placed Julius Baer had won the previous three races and their form had improved throughout the season.

After a frantic start it was FRM  who pulled away as the boats rounded St Martin’s Point.

They built a strong lead along the south coast and by Pleinmont they looked certain to win the race and finish the series in style.

Their lead over Julius Baer had grown to about one minute.

However, as the FRM boat rounded the point to begin the tricky route into Portelet, they found themselves in a rocky cul de sac and had to stop and work their way out through a gap in the reef.

By this stage second-placed Julius Baer had narrowed the lead to a mere three lengths.

FRM began to pull away again, but knowing that a race-ending collision with a rock would gift the championship to their rivals, they took a very cautious approach into the bay.

This allowed Julius Baer cox Lloyd Le Page to sweep by on the inside and steer his crew to a race win by three seconds.

Although FRM were bitterly disappointed to lose a race that they dominated for so long, their caution had at least ensured that they finished the series as champions.