The Bantry Bay crew, soared in second place, while representing Ireland in the Atlantic Rowing Challenge; International Contest of Seamanship in early August this year in Midland Canada.
Competing on Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes the Bantry Bay Crew displayed huge amounts of physical and mental strength as they accomplished first place in their first three races.
The Atlantic Challenge is held every other year and sponsors a friendly contest of seamanship in Bantry Bay gigs. Founded by an American native Lance Lee, the Atlantic Challenge aims to build trust among nations and form a community of youth and adults from many countries, while also encouraging the practice of traditional maritime skills.
Over the duration of the competition, the crew all from Bantry in West Cork placed well in all events but disaster struck when a mast step shattered just before the start of the Oars and Sails race, one of the team's better disciplines. The crew using their initiative and experience managed to fix the mast and crossed the start line under sail, ten minutes after the other crews had started. In 13th (and last) position, a huge performance was needed to regain the lost ground and, again, the Bantry crew pulled out all the stops and produced an inspiring display of courage and stamina picking off each of the other competitors one by one. The ten minute delay at the start fuelled this determination and they managed a very respectable fifth position, just eight minutes behind the winners. They raced the course two minutes faster than anyone else.
The International Contest of Seamanship has travelled from France (2000), Maine U.S.A (2002), Wales (2004), Italy (2006), Finland (2008), to Midland (2010) and Bantry is set to host the Atlantic Challenge International Contest of Seamanship in 2012. For more information, log onto www.bantry2012.ie or www.atlanticchallenge.org Click this link for Irish Rowing details
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