SMILES as wide as an ocean were ubiquitous at the official homecoming for four Islanders who rowed across the Atlantic and into the record books.
Around 300 people were in the Royal Square to celebrate the feat of the Intrepid 232 crew, three weeks after they completed the race dubbed the World Toughest Row.
With their team name acknowledging their combined ages, Julie Brady, Helene Monpetit, Rosemary Satchwell and Alison Smithurst broke the record for the oldest female crew to cross any ocean.
Saturday’s celebrations were crowned by a previously-unannounced decision that the four women should receive medals from the Bailiff.
Sir Timothy Le Cocq led the congratulations, shaking each rower warmly by the hand and heralding their achievement.
“This ladies’ team have made two significant achievements,” he said. “Not only have they completed the ‘World’s Toughest Row’ in incredibly challenging conditions, but they have also entered the history books for their Ocean Rowing Stats world record.
“They needed to go through an arduous training programme to conditions themselves to be able to safely navigate the challenging seas, yet for the last few days there was a real possibility they would have to rely on assistance to finish the race – they kept us all on tenterhooks.”
The Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd, and Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham were also present to congratulate the crew.
Deputy Farnham said the rowers had shown what could be achieved by those who put their mind to a challenge, and said he hoped someone in the crowd might be inspired and become a record-breaker of the future.
Looking radiant in their official dark blue team kit, the four women walked into the square at exactly 3pm to tumultous applause and a guard of honour from veterans of previous Atlantic campaigns.
John Searson, Carl Clinton, Rob Cassin, Ian Blandin, Ian Anderson, Pete Wright and Rufus Scholefield were joined by Jersey Rowing Club chairman Gerald Howe in creating a tunnel of oars for the crew.
The Band of the Island of Jersey was on hand to provide a suitable musical backdrop.
Prior to receiving their medals, the four rowers took part in an on-stage interview, gently chiding their questioner for stating that they’d spent “just over a month” at sea, when their voyage had in fact lasted 58 days.
Mrs Monpetit said: “The support we had was completely overwhelming… and it still is.”
Putting on wet kit and going back on deck to resume rowing was described as the worst thing by Mrs Brady, who said that having a burger and a hot shower had been the highlights of her arrival in Antigua.
Mrs Satchwell said rowing at night when the skies were clear and the sea was flat was her favourite part of the voyage.
And the bond between the team had only strengthened during the eight-week race, according to Miss Smithurst.
She said: “We got on really well – there were no big arguments, and we finished up even better friends than we started.”
Bailiff’s Medal
– Bailiff’s Medals are awarded periodically to represent the Island’s appreciation of outstanding service.
– The medal features a replica of the Royal Mace given in 1663 as a token of appreciation for the Island’s loyalty to the Crown, and an image of the seal given by King Edward I in 1279.
– The medals were the first presented by the current Bailiff since he took office in October 2019.
– The most recent recipients were four veterans of the 1944 Normandy Landings. Harry Fenn, Bill Reynolds, Richard Wraight and Ernest Thorne were recognised on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in June 2019.
