A group from Langstone Cutters took Bembridge to Gosport on Saturday to visit the Maritime Workshop, a marine conservation trust that laid the new tween deck on the Cutty Sark. We saw their 30ft Commander's Gig from 1933, and viewed their 50ft Steam Picket Boat, currently being refurbished. Then we went rowing from Hardway in what turned out to be a glorious spring day.

Bembridge is back in the boat park after her mini-refit, looking ultra-smart and fitted with new rowlock pins. Many thanks to Geoff and the others who worked so hard on getting Bembridge ready for what is shaping up to be a busy season.

Four of us turned up for the Wednesday Row today, which is awkward as almost all of our boats hold three, five or six but not four. We solved it by putting Nigel, Graham and Frances in Millie and Chris Partridge in Kittiwake. We went to the Thatched House in Milton for lunch, Kittiwake managing to get there surprisingly quickly for such a short and beamy boat. On the return, Chris and Frances went in Millie and Graham and Nigel took Kittiwake.

Halfway to the Ferryboat Inn, Bembridge and Gladys came across LCRC's bosun Geoff Shilling in his canoe. A lovely afternoon on the water.

All of Langstone Cutters' big boats were out today. Here is Bembridge starting on a round Hayling Island training row for the race on 21 May, passing Mabel who was brought in immediately afterwards for a row to Emsworth where the crew had breakfast at Heidi's, yum yum. Gladys went out with Reivers12 as part of their punishing training routine for the London To Paris And Back record attempt.

Hamble River Rowing have produced a great little training video with lots of good tips, and featuring Bembridge on her recent row up the Hamble.

The AGM was held at Langstone Sailing Club last night, when we looked back at a very successful year that saw the restoration of Bembridge and club members competing in Ireland, England and France. Thanks to the catering crew who produced the delicious baked spuds and chilli con carne!

Langstone Cutters Rowing Club AGM will be held at Langstone Sailing Club on Saturday November 27 at 7.30.
A delicious, nourishing and inexpensive chilli supper will be served and the bar will be open. This AGM will be a blast!

Bembridge's crew started from Langstone with high hearts to launch at the slipway next to the Hayling Bridge.
At Langstone Harbour mouth, despite rowing hard our speed over the ground dropped to 1.5mph according to the GPS.
Outside in the channel, it looked like this.
These guys circled round. Five minutes later, the lifeboat turned up, the coxwain saying 'The helicopter was concerned'. They clearly weren't, but agreed that our decision to turn back was the right one.
We went to the Thatched House in Milton, then home to the Royal Oak, where the wind dropped and the sun came out.

On Saturday we are rowing Bembridge to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, where we will be met by various rowers, the lifeboat and the Mayor. A contingent will be cycling there and rowing back. Anyone interested in taking part, please contact Colin McPhee.