Cockleshell Challenge
Sunday 22 May 2022
Contact Amanda
A seven mile race from Eastney, along Southsea seafront and back via Horse Sand fort. It takes around 11/2 hours- maybe a bit more depending on the conditions on the day. We will need people to tow, if we are going to take part. Eastney Sailing Club are the hosts, so there are good launching facilities, a subsidised bar, excellent breakfasts and a good view from the clubhouse. www.eastneycruisingassociation.com for more details.
Location Eastney
Eastney Cruising Association has been running its flagship rowing event, the Cockleshell Challenge, in early summer since 2017. It is a demanding 7.2 nautical mile open-water race for Cornish Pilot Gigs and other seagoing rowing craft.
We hold this event in honour of the Cockleshell Heroes and we race through the waters in which they trained. The Cockleshell Heroes were the ten Royal Marines who took part in Operation FRANKTON in December 1942 . They launched their canoes from submarines at the mouth of the Gironde River in France. Over the next three days, some of them evaded German forces and made it about 50 miles upriver to Bordeaux where they laid their mines and damaged six ships. Of the ten Royal Marines who departed, two returned.
Lord Mountbatten described it as “This brilliant little operation carried out with great determination and courage”.
Our event is a very modest tribute to great men.
ECA’s Cockleshell Challenge is unlike many gig races. It is held in open water. Crews must deal with wind, swell and tide while coxes even have to do a little navigation. A typical time to complete the race is 90 minutes.
The racing gigs leave Langstone Harbour and immediately turn west along the beach passing the Southsea Headquarters of the Cockleshell Heroes, at Lumps Fort. Just before South Parade Pier, they turn south to round Horse Sand Fort. From there, they turn east to find Langstone Fairway for the final turn. There is then a final sprint of a little over a mile to the finish line at the ECA. Rowers have all to win or lose in the final dash.
The ECA clubhouse, bar and galley are open to welcome and refresh the rowers before our Commodore presents the prestigious Cockleshell Challenge trophy.
We hold this event in honour of the Cockleshell Heroes and we race through the waters in which they trained. The Cockleshell Heroes were the ten Royal Marines who took part in Operation FRANKTON in December 1942 . They launched their canoes from submarines at the mouth of the Gironde River in France. Over the next three days, some of them evaded German forces and made it about 50 miles upriver to Bordeaux where they laid their mines and damaged six ships. Of the ten Royal Marines who departed, two returned.
Lord Mountbatten described it as “This brilliant little operation carried out with great determination and courage”.
Our event is a very modest tribute to great men.
ECA’s Cockleshell Challenge is unlike many gig races. It is held in open water. Crews must deal with wind, swell and tide while coxes even have to do a little navigation. A typical time to complete the race is 90 minutes.
The racing gigs leave Langstone Harbour and immediately turn west along the beach passing the Southsea Headquarters of the Cockleshell Heroes, at Lumps Fort. Just before South Parade Pier, they turn south to round Horse Sand Fort. From there, they turn east to find Langstone Fairway for the final turn. There is then a final sprint of a little over a mile to the finish line at the ECA. Rowers have all to win or lose in the final dash.
The ECA clubhouse, bar and galley are open to welcome and refresh the rowers before our Commodore presents the prestigious Cockleshell Challenge trophy.