Hat Trick win for Elettra

Sunday dawned bright and sunny, unlike the predicted forecast, and the fancy dress rowers of Elettra made their way to Hythe Quay, Maldon for makeup and final costume adjustments; for some this involved balloons!
This year’s theme, The Addams Family proved a very popular choice but as judging took place on the quay there was some stiff competition from Popeye, Olive Oil and Bluto, a particularly stylish pirate, two groups dressed from the 80’s, Spidermen on paddleboards and of course the ladies of the Basin Oars in a retrospective of previous year’s costumes!
After bacon rolls and coffee, the team took to the water in Elettra with Martin Baker (Gomez) on stroke, Tom Clayton (Morticia) , Cap’n Kev (Uncle Fester ) and Graham Cross (Lurch) rowing and Sophie Clayton (Wednesday) as cox.
The gig race, to Hilly Pool, off the Blackwater Sailing Club was first to start, against the tide. Record Reign (Maldon) came from behind to quickly take the lead, closely followed by Mehalah (West Mersea). Elettra hugged the shore on their way past Byrhtnoth and after a call to the team to give it 10 hard pulls Elettra drew ahead of Mehalah! By now they were on Record Reign’s tail, following them downriver and keeping pace with them all the way to the turning mark at Hilly Pool. At the mark the cox chose to keep the whole team rowing in time, with the stroke side pulling hard to get Elettra round the mark meaning they kept up their pace and momentum. As they set off back up the river Record Reign’s cox chose to stay inshore while Elettra stayed out in the tide (and the heavy weather!) This gave them the advantage and miraculously they began to pull ahead! Unable to be caught Elettra steamed to the finish ahead of all the other gigs and against all predictions Elettra had finally won an actual gig race! But not only did they win the race but Best Fancy Dress and also most money raised by a gig, over £1.260 for the RNLI. How fantastic is that!
A big thank you to everyone who turned out to support us and anyone who has bought raffle tickets, made and bought cakes and donated to the jar on bar, we couldn’t do it without you and well done to our fancy dress rowers for not only winning the race but raising the profile of the Marconi Sailing Club in such a positive and enjoyable way!
I think the last word should go to the cox though – ‘I could see us pulling ahead! As we rowed round Herring point we could hear supporters singing The Addams Family theme tune which spurred us on to a triumphant cruise to the finish. I think you can see from my face in the photos how excited I was – I’ve never won a rowing race before and to do it at my favourite race of the season was the icing on the cake! ‘

By Sandra Clayton