Gig crew unveils challenge to Row Round Cornwall

A team of intrepid rowers led by St Austell Brewery's Head Brewer Roger Ryman are preparing to take on the challenge of a lifetime by attempting the first ever complete row round Cornwall.

The team from Charlestown Rowing Club will battle rough seas and take on an arduous 30-mile overland push to complete the first full 300-mile circumnavigation of the county by boat, using a traditional Cornish gig.

Roger Ryman - who is also the Charlestown club rowing secretary - says he came up with the idea as an alternative to having a mid life crisis on approaching his 40^th birthday in June!

Super-fit Roger found seven willing volunteers from the club to join him for the Row Round Cornwall challenge, which will take place in May 2007 and will raise money for the RNLI's Train one, save many campaign as well as Charlestown Rowing Club's new boathouse project.

The crew will spend the evening stop-overs at St Austell Brewery pubs in each of their ports of call around the coast, with the Brewery meeting the cost of the accommodation and working with each of the pubs to throw a special party and fundraising event to coincide with the team's arrival.

Roger, who was recently named the UK's Brewer of the Year, said: "I know it sounds extreme but with my 40^th birthday around the corner I felt the need to take on some sort of challenge.  Being a keen rower at Charlestown, a long distance row seemed the most appropriate thing to do - in which case why not do a first and row around Cornwall.

"One minute I was just talking about it and the next we had boat full of volunteers asking when we were going to set off. Now we have gone through the details of what's in front of us it looks quite daunting but we are training hard and we're confident we can do it."

The plan is to have a crew of eight in the boat, with six rowing at any one time, one resting and one coxing.

The crew will row their traditional gig ‘Tormentor' out of Charlestown Harbour and head east towards Plymouth and then on up the River Tamar.

One of the most physically demanding sections of the journey will involve pushing the gig and trailer, with a combined weigh of more than half a tonne, across land from the upper reaches of the River Tamar to the Bude canal and the north Cornwall coast.

From there it will be hard rowing all the way down the rugged north Cornwall coast, round Cape Cornwall, Lands End and then back up the south coast to Charlestown where the hardy bunch are expected to arrive after a total of eight days.

James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery said: "We're delighted to be supporting Roger and the club in this uniquely Cornish challenge.

"St Austell Brewery is a longstanding supporter and sponsor of gig rowing as a widespread community activity in Cornwall. We're looking forward to welcoming the team and supporters to our pubs around the route to celebrate their achievements and raise money for two very worthy causes."

Dave Nicoll, RNLI Area Fundraising Manager for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, says this incredible journey is the perfect way to raise money for the RNLI's Train one, save many campaign: "The RNLI expects its volunteer crews to face many challenges in often demanding and difficult conditions and therefore training is vital.

"This row will highlight the importance of training and dedication as Roger Ryman and his team prepare and undertake the journey. It costs £1,000 to train one RNLI crew member for a year and we thank the rowers for all they are doing to ensure we can continue to provide the very best education for the RNLI volunteers who launch time and time again to save lives at sea.'

Shane Sullivan, Chairman of Charlestown Rowing Club, said: "Gig rowing in Cornwall is a growing sport and one which is proud of its close links with local communities.

"I'm delighted that it is Charleston Rowing Club taking on this challenge - certainly the biggest fundraising event we have been involved in - which will highlight and raise much needed funds for the Charlestown clubhouse and community building appeal as well as the RNLI."

The RNLI will use the funds to support its ‘Train One, Save Many' campaign.  For each £1,000 raised, the RNLI is able to train another Lifeboat crew member for the Lifeboat stations along the Cornish coast.

Charlestown Rowing Club will use the funds raised to convert the Old Pattern Shop at the former Charlestown Engineering site into a boat shed, clubhouse and community building for the village.