CDM - WEMMER PARTICIATION 2014

CANAL DU MIDI - The Wemmer participation in 2014 - an Extreme Week!!

Whilst it is fresh in my mind, there may be a bit of interest in the Rallye and Wemmer's participation this year.

Tim, Wendy and I were very keen to put together a number of crews for the 2014 CDM - hence the reason we proposed the idea nearly a year ago. Unfortunately, we only managed to put a single crew together but it is such a special event, that I think it is worthwhile adding to the Blog participants. If you haven't read the blog, check out - http://teamoarsome.blogspot.com
We participated in the 2010 CDM rallye and certainly from my side, there were a number of unresolved issues -the primary one being understanding the event - secondly, deciding what you want from it and lastly, to see if we could improve on our last rallye.

For all participants, the following applies

-A 5 day event over 206 km on the Canal du Midi
-Superb kit - and a consequently a level playing field.
-10 stages - on average about 20 km each of which 8 are timed. The other stages are not timed due to the number of locks and potential damage to boats or injury to participants.
-Youth hostel type accommodation, though you can opt for out for better hotels providing you pay for it.
-Superb food in quality, variety and quantity - Southern French cuisine at its very best - we have had everything from paella to lamb shank to Cassoulet. Simply brilliant!

The decision to be made is how you want to compete. There are a number of athletes (mainly French) who simply ask to be put into a crew. There are others who pitch up as a crew and just enjoy the event - much as we did in 2010 - and then there are those who wanna give it a go and compete. The difference in time can be as much as two hours between first and last on a stage!!

This year, there were 35 crews - 30 quads and 5 single scullers. Furthermore, there were a number of 'younger' crews and the competition was  much stronger than 2010.  We had made the decision to get a lot stronger and fitter and in my case a lot lighter (not that this  really worked for me) than our 2010 experience. Ideally, we also needed some additional hosspower, not only for moving the boat, but also for getting the boat on and off the water and for the portages. So we enlisted my son Anthony into the crew, fresh off his Henley campaign - it was surprisingly easy when u pick up his event costs so nothing has freally changed since he started rowing 15 years back!! . In all, we had 7 'athlete's' available to row, so 5 in the boat and 2 on bikes.

We had a super build up to the CDM, a very solid Long Row, and after our last session in the Youlette's at Harties in last July, it was very obvious that the Ladies could slot into the crew seamlessly - and boy they certainly did that!!

In my opinion, the CDM is won and lost in the first day, and to be more specific the first morning! Your result is built over the event and it is quite possible to lose the event in one session - reminder,  there are 8 timed sessions. From the 2010 event, we knew we had to be at the sharp end of the field after the first 20km otherwise we would battle to make up places and be competitive. The first sessions is the only one where (as a competitive crew and if you know what you are doing), you can get to the front of the race quickly and not get involved in the bottlenecks at the locks. After the first session, in order to bunch the field, the organizers reverse the field and send off the slowest crew first and the fastest last. We were in 2nd place after the first session!! Job well done..

What was fantastic is that our rhythm in the boat was there from the get go. We were able to main a rate of around 25 for hours on end and the cover never dropped below 5 meters, and for long periods it was much better than that. Our pace confounded the crews completely, even to the extent they were questioning the timekeepers times - very satisfying.  But it is difficult to explain the level of effort. The CDM  is an adventure race, and it combines rowing and portages. If you want to be competitive, you have to run the Youlette around the locks and if there is less than 1000 m (and even upto 1500 m), you lose too much time putting the boat back onto the water and getting it off again.. It was the one area where everyone other than Anthony battled. Ant would set off at a gallop with the boat. In tow would be Judy Shoomee hanging onto the Cox's mooring rope for dear life - her reasoning being she needed to hold the boat when it was launched again but really, if she didn't, she would have expired on the tow path. Between the rest of us, we tried to keep pace by running or swapping out on a bike - eventually getting it down to a fine art and it kept us competitive. At one stage it got so bad that Lesley loaned us her bike so all of us could catch up. She had a 2km walk to get it back again but she really saved the day. Only once did Anthony arrive at the next launching spot to be asked by the organizers if he was now rowing the boat on his own!! Fortunately, we arrived shortly thereafter. On another occasion Tim - and the debate is out on who hates running more between Mark and Tim - was effectively "La lanterne rouge" -  the last competitor of the Rally - with the "Voiture balais" hovering close behind him. But the next day, he was effectively leading the Rallye - strange how things change in 24 hours!!

The CDM evolves as an event, and that is what makes it so special. You develop techniques to improve your pace.. Ant and I spent much of the event at Bow and 2. Eventually, we had my blades shipped and me ready to get out of the boat before the boat stopped. I'd be out first, Ant would release the dolly (aka Chariot) mounted and strapped on the bow and pass it to me and jump out. By this time, the rest of the crew was out. Ant and I would start lifting the bow, Tim would jump into assist, Wendy would hold the Chariot in place, Judy Shoomee would hang onto her rope, Sue and Mark  would lift the stern if necessary, stow the blades and help in any other way needed. After a few days we had it pretty well taped. Getting back on the water is pretty much the same in reverse. Jumping other crews is undoubtedly the fastest way of getting past - indeed on one occasion we took the 'other road' and jumped 15 boats in one go! Effectively this move cemented our final position in the Rallye.

Pretty quickly it becomes apparent who are the hot crews and the poorer crews get out of the way fast. If they wont or don't, you take the law into your own hands.. On one occasion, when a crew in front of us wouldn't run and couldn't get out of the way, we took their boat and ran it for them!!

Remarkably, we were the best supported crew at the Rallye. Everyone shouted for "Les South Africain's" and the support was 'Tour de Franceesque' in volume. No-one could believe how well we were going. We had an on going battle with a Lyon crew on Thursday morning that went on for 40 minutes with our bow sitting on their stern. Lyon were so chuffed to beat us on the section (we beat them on time comprehensively), that they presented us with a couple of bottles of fine "Cotes Du Rhone" in celebration - a very civilized bunch!!

But the pressure is unrelenting. One cant get fit to row 5 consecutive daily Marathons but we didn't stop once on the tour(other than for bottlenecks which fortunately weren't frequent) - so the effort is immense and the team work essential. We rehydrated on the run and didn't stop at one 'tea break'.

But trying to remember everything  is impossible when you are operating at this level of stress - its slowly comes back

Personal Memories

-The staggeringly beautiful countryside - South France is the breadbasket of Europe! The plain trees overhanging the canal on both sides.

-Judy Schoomee screaming "ATTENTION" with a French Accent and driving the boat past numerous boats, through numerous bridges, avoiding hundreds of pleasure boats and barges. On Friday Schoomee managed to drive our boat between two others in a channel no wider than 20 meters - scary stuff..  A top class cox is essential and Schoomee put us in the best position at every opportunity.

-On Thursday afternoon we had an hour long dice with the two leading crews with us just ahead - the rest of the field trailing in our wakes.

-On Friday morning, spending an hour following Anthony at stroke and me at 3 - fast, long and smooth - a Bucketlist row and something I will never forget - the ultimate Father and Son experience and a round of golf will never compete!! Equally, spending hours watching these murderously large puddles coming past from the bow - truly impressive!!

-Our crew working as a team at the top of what our game could ever be!! I cannot thank or congratulate my fellow crew mates enough for the most amazing experience and performing beyond our wildest expectations! We were at least 3 hours faster than the 2010 participation

-Our co-competitors and their reaction to us. Couldn't be bought. The respect and applause from them was mindblowing! We were told on numerous occasions that we had the best shirt at the Rallye and I don't think any of us have any kit left - well done Sue!

-The kindness and hard work of the organizers.. This is a massive event!!

-When Toulouse Aviron were putting us under pressure, Anthony reminding us "No Toulouse".

-On Friday, on the last 6km session on windy water, absolutely exhausted but still going strong with Anthony reminding me why I did 1000 miles on the Ergo!!

-Les cruising along on her bike with a wide grin on her face albeit with a very sore derriere....

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In conclusion, I have no unresolved issues with the CDM. It is the most incredible event and I cant encourage everyone enough to have a go.

If one avoids the attraction of combining it with another holiday in Europe, the Rallye can be done cheaply both in time and funding.. u only need a week off!!

But as with a lot of things nowadays, the event is under threat due to government 'health and safety'  concerns - as the American crews commented 'there is no way this event would ever be allowed in the US as the liabilities would be uninsurable.'

If you are keen to have a go, register early and get fit. Its one helluva ride!!

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Keep it long and smooth...

Yours,

Simon Lester