Curlew avoids Thames rescue

5:12pm Monday 5th April 2004

Curlew Rowing Club's first ever competition as a veteran eight turned into a race for survival.

The Greenwich-based club were taking part in the prestigious Veteran's Eights Head, raced on the Thames from Putney to Mortlake, when what the RNLI described as "unusually large" waves, whipped up by gale force winds, caused five boats to sink and one to break in half!

Forty rowers were rescued from the Thames, with 14 treated for hyperthermia.

Curlew, rowing towards the front of the group, narrowly escaped being swamped in the waves by taking evasive action.

Club spokesman Ross Furlong said: "It felt a bit like Dad's Army on manoevers.

"Cries of don't panic' and take cover' were coming down the boat.

"We ended up hugging the bank and just hoping that we could get back to Mortlake before the boat filled up."

This rescue followed a busy day on Saturday when Chiswick Lifeboat pulled nine rowers from the river after another sinking in rough water, and two people from a rowing club safety boat, which had sunk on its way to assist.

Even with the conditions, Curlew finished a credible 28th from 164 crews.

Despite the hairy start to their veteran campaign, Curlew intends to follow up with a series of races throughout the year.