Lyme Regis Gig Club’s newest boat Prospero will again be racing this coming weekend (October 14 and 15), writes Chris Bailey.

Following a recent trip to London for her maiden voyage up the Thames in the Great River Race, she will again be entered in an `energy sapping` endurance pursuit race up the river Tamar.

A crew selected from the men’s competitive squad will be setting off from the start line under the Tamar bridge, rowing nine miles upstream to Cotehele Quay. A distance of over five times that of a normal regatta circuit.

Established cox Chris Waller will negotiate the many natural bends and shallow sandbanks of the taxing course, to navigate the crew through to the finish line. For the crew, this will be a test of fitness, technique and discipline. The highest levels of which will be required to ensure they finish in the best time for their category. They are hoping to improve on last years` time of one hour, 10 minutes and five seconds.

Also, this coming weekend, two more Lyme Gig Club crews will be participating in the Head of the River race. This is a four-mile pursuit race up the river Helford to the small village of Gweek.