Ross rower, Chris Farr was one of the Multiplex sponsored crew which set out from the beach in Dover and successfully rowed across the English Channel to reach Cap Gris Nez in 3 hours and 17 minutes on Thursday, July 19th. This was the fastest crossing of the English Channel ever recorded in a four man rowing boat! The crew consisted of David Riches, Chris Farr, Ranald McGregor and James Cowley, coxed by Ali O'Connor. Chris told The Ross Gazette that although it was a lovely sunny day, once they were out of the shelter of Dover harbour the water was very choppy with waves coming from every direction, making it difficult to keep the boat steady. He said: "Ours was easily the smallest vessel in the channel, and rowing across the shipping lanes was alarming to say the least! The container ships and ferries ploughing up and down the shipping lanes weigh several thousand tonnes and take several kilometres to stop once they are moving! "The pilot boat escorting us did a wonderful job ensuring a safe passage through the traffic. We did get several soakings from the huge washes coming off the bows though! "We watched the white cliffs of Dover get smaller and smaller until they disappeared over the horizon. There was still no sign of France and for a while we rowed with no land in sight. "Eventually France appeared in the distance, giving our tired legs and sore hands the lift needed to push on to the end. It was a wonderful feeling when the boat ran aground on the beach in France!" Chris said the crew members were grateful to all those who sponsored them. He said: "We raised in excess of £2,000 for the Children with Leukaemia fund."
