Dart Gig Club took a crew of eight to London for the annual London Docklands to Rich­mond race, which covers just over 21 miles of the river Thames.

The start was slightly chaotic, with a large number of boats missing their slots, and the gigs jostling for position.

The boats encountered some particularly choppy water this year, but with the tide under the boats, it was not long before they are passing the sights of central London, and flying under all the bridges.

The crew managed to negotiate all hazards without having to slow down but crew chan­ges, swapping in and out to share coxing and passenger duties, took the edge off the boat speed.

Despite this, and the average age of the crew (well into the veterans category), they were pleased to come home in a time of two hours 42 minutes in 64th place out of a fleet of 324.

There were 42 gigs entered, and Smudger came in 11th.

Crew: Peta Chivers, Clare Thorp, Liz Mose­ley, Trevor Pretty, Ru­pert Kempley, Stan Bray, Karen Harvey, Michael Bryant-Mole