Cockleshell Challenge - more info from ECA on arrangements

[Rachel]

ECA Cockleshell Challenge 22nd May 2022
Event Plan and Arrival Instructions
Thanks for accepting our invitation to ECA to take part in this year’s 7-mile Cockleshell Challenge race. At the time of writing, we have 16 confirmed gig entries, 6 Bursledon gigs,7 Cornish Pilot gigs, 2 Solent Galleys and a Celtic longboat.
We’ve been running the event since 2018; a 7-mile race starting and finishing at our clubhouse at the entrance to Langstone Harbour. Gigs race west into The Solent, along Eastney beach and transit the submerged barrier near Lumps Fort, the wartime HQ of the “Cockleshell Heroes”. The gigs then turn south and row round Horse Sand Fort (keeping it to port) before returning to Langstone Harbour via Langstone Fairway Post.
Some notes to help the day go smoothly:
1. Arrival
1.1 Gigs and Towing Vehicles
Please come to our main entrance where our members will be at the gate you greet you. Suggested arrival time is 0800 – 0900. This will allow controlled unloading of gigs etc. If you’d like to bring your boat earlier, please let us know. Postcode is PO4 9LY. There are no narrow or difficult corners to negotiate on your way to ECA. We are (as always) limited for space, please unload as instructed by our event yard master. You will be handed a car & trailer car pass, please leave on your dashboard. We have dollies to help you launch if needed. Please note that for insurance purposes NO VEHICLES are allowed on our main slipway. We have powered winches and towing tractors to assist with launch and recovery. After unloading, please park your vehicle and trailer in our North Compound, inside the marked-out area as directed. Unloaded gigs can be taken to the water’s edge, on the day of the event Low Water Portsmouth is 1024 BST. Race start is planned for 1100.

1.2 Other Vehicles.
We are unable to accommodate other guest cars on site for this (nearly) summertime event. There are however two nearby, free public car parks to the north https://w3w.co/tonic.bulb.lame and to the south of ECA https://w3w.co/healers.pitch.during.
Please park up in either car park and walk to our club’s main entrance.


2. Clubhouse
2.1 Breakfast
We will be serving breakfasts (bacon rolls, coffee etc, veggie rolls etc) at our galley from 0800. Please note that because of recent management changes, this will be staffed by our own gig rowing members. CASH ONLY please at the galley, as we’re unable to take cards.
2.2 Lunch
Again, lunch will be served by our own rowing members, Final details still TBD, but it will be something like chilli jackets and other such choices.
2.3 Bar
Our subsidised club bar opens at noon and remains open until 2230. Note that ECA is a private members’ club, so to comply with our drinks licence we need a signature in our guest book from each cox /club representative who can “sign in” the whole crew / club. Note that the ECA bar DOES accept payment by card, and offers a cashback service as well,
3. Race Plan
Please refer to the attached Cox Race Instructions
3.1 Safety Briefing
Everyone who is participating in the event needs to attend our safety briefing, planned for 1000.
3.2 Race Start
Race start is planned for 1100.
4. Presentation and Prizegiving
This is planned to be held on ECA Balcony at about 1430. Presentations will be by our club’s Commodore, Mrs Jenny Hartman. Prizes will be for the first 3 crews in each class.
5. Our Nominated Event Charity
Once more we’re supporting our nominated charity for this event - The Royal Marines Charity https://rma-trmc.org/
We are delighted to welcome a team this year from the Royal Marines RMA Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon to our event, who will be using one of our own ECA gigs to avoid having to tow their own gig from Devon.
We plan to have charity collection bins on our club bar and we will also be holding a raffle. Also our thanks to Matt Pike from Molson Coors (www.molsoncoors.com), who supply our club bar, for kindly donating a barrel of beer which we will be serving from noon. £2 a pint, all proceeds to The Royal Marines Charity.
6. Confirmed Entries as of 12/05/22
• Clifton Pilot Gig Club, Bristol
• Coastal Rowing Academy Club
• ECA
• Hamble River Rowing
• Langstone Rowing Club
• Lewes Gig Club
• Mengham Rhythe Gig Rowing
• Newhaven
• RMA Gig Club, Lympstone
• Thames Barbarians Pilot Gig Club
• Tudor SC