Sulkavan Suursoudut

[Tim]

So over the weekend of 11th - 13th July 2025 a motley crew of Cutters namely trip organiser Alison Bents Jackie Harper, Mike Gilbert, Colin and Caroline McPhee, Lesley Grainger, Kay Chambers, Anita Preston, Tina Way, Rachel and l travelled to Finland to participate in the most amazing rowing event, the Sulkavan Suursoudut held annually in the Finnish Lake and Mosquito Breeding District. The event features the Finish Church-boat rowing championships held over a variety of courses between 15 and 60 Kilometres.



The Cutters were to participate in what could be described as an extreme excursion held over two days where they were to row a total of 70 kilometres round an island course with some thirty other crews and included an overnight stop to recuperate (party, swim, sauna repeat) all in a heatwave the like of which is seldom seen in the region. To put it in perspective it was rowing around Hayling some 3 and a big bit times with about three hours sleep in boats which were rowed by crews of 14 sat side by side in either fixed or slidey seat “Churchboats” so named as historically they were rowed round the islands of the lakes collecting parishioners for Sunday worship.



The Cutters were joined in their boats by crews made up of rowers from some ten clubs.



Langstone Pilot Gig Club
Coastal Rowing Academy
Chichester Yacht Club
Mumbles Rowing Club (Wales)
Burnham on Sea Gig Club
Thames Ditton Skiff and Punting Club
Bridport Pilot Gig Club
Dolphin Rowing Club
London Cornish Pilot Gig Club and
Colectivo Avante Pedrena

The above were to participate in an event with only the briefest of training in the form of a launch and row around for a bit, and the obligatory socialising and sampling of Finnish food and drink the night before, if the dipping of the sun for an hour or so could be described as such!

Highlights of the trip

The Finnish hospitality
Meeting new chums from around the rowing World
Seeing a “Saimaa ringed seal” which became landlocked in Lake Saimaa and consists of a population of only 500.
Saunas
5am swims in the Lake
Stunning scenery
Rowing side by side.
Original Long Drink
Barbecuing a whole Salmon
Simply rowing somewhere so beautiful with like minded souls.


Kiitos Finland

[Lesley Grainger]

That's great Tim. You have captured the adventure in such a lovely way. It was a wonderful experience. Here's to many more.
Lesley G x