Monster the Loch!

No, ergs don't yet float, but some of us do, and here's where you get to discuss that other form of rowing.
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Dino
6k Poster
Posts: 870
Joined: December 23rd, 2018, 8:54 am

Monster the Loch!

Post by Dino » September 24th, 2024, 1:23 pm

Hello all - been AWOL a while - although been lurking again more recently.
Erg meters way down on what they used to be although fingers crossed will be putting more meters in over the coming months.

Anyway... this Saturday just gone found my son and I on the start line of 'Monster the Loch' ...a 21 miles rowing race down the length of Loch Ness! :D Whilst we hoped not to be last we had no illusions of it being a race for us, enjoying the experience and finishing it was the goal (and raising money for the MNDA). This was slightly over 2x our previous longest row together :lol: We were in a double sculling boat but there were also sorts of fixed and sliding seat rowing boats, canoes, kayaks, proas, surfskis and even 1 mad person on a paddleboard!

We were promised sun by the organisers and advised to pack lots of water and sun cream - needless to say we never saw the sun :lol: but what a great experience it was - even when the wind and the waves picked up in the last hour out spirits weren't to be dampened... although a few iffy moments with waves breaking over the back of the boat on occasions - surfing and trying to keep the boat straight were new to us! :shock: We finished in a bit under four hours and 83rd out of 112 finishers. The scenery was fantastic and everyone very friendly. It may have been a bit more serious at the pointy end but people we passed or were passing us were always in good spirits and ready to swap encouragement.

For a flavour of the event, check this video from a the event a couple of years ago. Anyone dabbling their toes in OTW rowing and fancy a challenge its well worth giving it a go. You can even hire a coastal sculling boat if you get your name down early enough. It was a long way from the rowing lake I normally row on in the summer - figuratively and in reality (to the tune of a near 1200 mile round trip!) but sometimes you have to just say what the heck and go for it :D
56M HWT
50+PB 1m 326m, 500m 1:38,7, 1k 3:31.6, 2k 7:16.8, 5k 19:06.6, 6k 23:26.0, 30m 7730m, 10k 39:26.1, 60m 15025m, HM 1:25:04.7, FM 2:59:26.0, 50k 3:49:17.3
A long way away from any of these PBs now!!

Dangerscouse
Marathon Poster
Posts: 10419
Joined: April 27th, 2014, 11:11 am
Location: Liverpool, England

Re: Monster the Loch!

Post by Dangerscouse » September 24th, 2024, 2:31 pm

Welcome back Dino. That sounds like it was a great day
50 HWT; 6' 4"; 1k= 3:09; 2k= 6:36; 5k= 17:19; 6k= 20:47; 10k= 35:46 30mins= 8,488m 60mins= 16,618m HM= 1:16.47; FM= 2:40:41; 50k= 3:16:09; 100k= 7:52:44; 12hrs = 153km

"You reap what you row"

Instagram: stuwenman

rickbayko
Paddler
Posts: 14
Joined: June 6th, 2024, 10:01 am

Re: Monster the Loch!

Post by rickbayko » September 24th, 2024, 8:03 pm

Well done! Sounds like a Bucket List item. :D

Cam Buchan did it three years ago and posted an interesting 21-minute video of it. He should have used a bigger boat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVjHAKapoHE
55-59: 1:33.5 3:19.2 6:55.7 18:22.0 2:47:26.5
60-64: 1:35.9 3:23.8 7:06.7 18:40.8 2:48:53.6
65-69: 1:38.6 3:31.9 7:19.2 19:26.6 3:02:06.0
70-74: 1:40.2 3:33.4 7:32.6 19:50.5 3:06:36.8
75-76: 1:43.9 3:47.7 7:50.2 20:51.3 3:13:55.7

Dino
6k Poster
Posts: 870
Joined: December 23rd, 2018, 8:54 am

Re: Monster the Loch!

Post by Dino » September 25th, 2024, 3:09 pm

Dangerscouse wrote:
September 24th, 2024, 2:31 pm
Welcome back Dino. That sounds like it was a great day
Cheers! I see the usual suspects are still crushing it :D
rickbayko wrote:
September 24th, 2024, 8:03 pm
Well done! Sounds like a Bucket List item. :D
Cam Buchan did it three years ago and posted an interesting 21-minute video of it.
Thanks very much. That video was the main cause of me being there on Saturday :lol:
Our self-bailer definitely came in handy!
56M HWT
50+PB 1m 326m, 500m 1:38,7, 1k 3:31.6, 2k 7:16.8, 5k 19:06.6, 6k 23:26.0, 30m 7730m, 10k 39:26.1, 60m 15025m, HM 1:25:04.7, FM 2:59:26.0, 50k 3:49:17.3
A long way away from any of these PBs now!!

PaulG
2k Poster
Posts: 376
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 4:53 pm
Location: Merrimac MA

Re: Monster the Loch!

Post by PaulG » September 25th, 2024, 3:55 pm

That looks like a lot of fun. Was that Yam the Great Dane that I spotted in the video?

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