Airport Firefighters Rowing Challenge

[oceanfroggie]

IWAI support DAPFS Shannon Rowing Challenge

On Thursday the 27th of June 2013, 12 members of the Dublin Airport Police/Fire Service will attempt to row the entire navigable section of the River Shannon 250km from Lough Allen to Foynes in aid of the 2013 DAA charities: Battens, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Down-Syndrome Ireland

Event Web Site: http://www.firefighterschallenge.ie
Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-APFS-Rowing-Club/124393434305441

The single coastal spec rowing boat will be crewed by three shifts of four rowers and a coxswain, who will row for one hour and rotate crews every hour with a two hour break for the off watch crews.

Supported Charities: Bee for Battens, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Down-Syndrome Ireland
Donate Here: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/apfs_rowing_clubs_event

Inland Waterways Association of Ireland members are supporting the DAPFS charity rowing event by providing support boats and logistical advice. IWAI members cruisers will act as rest boats for the rowers between their rotational shifts. IWAI members will also skipper a Magnifique class cruiser very generously provided by Emerald Star charter line to act as an additional support cruiser between Lough Allen and Killaloe. Thank you Emerald Star for your support of this worthy event.

Schedule
Thursday 27 Lough Allen – Athlone
Friday 28 Athlone – Killaloe
Saturday 29 Killaloe – Shannon Airport + Foynes

DAPFS Rowing Crew

IWAI President Carmel Meegan and DAPFS Coordinator Brian Dempsey

Any folks wishing to support the event donations can be made here: Donate Here

Complementing IWAI vessels Emerald Star have kindly provided one of their largest charter boats
Emerald Star Magnifique which will be helmed by IWAI volunteers

Thanking all members in advance for their support and cooperation.

 

[oceanfroggie]

They have started, now approx halfway down lough Allen.

Please try and support thier charities by donating. Every pound counts, small donations of £5, £10 or £20 really appreciated by the rowers. Times are tough but "every little helps".

Donate Here: Donate Here

Thank you for your generous hearts.

 

[oceanfroggie]

SITREP

Crew just passed Tarmonbarry well on schedule for 72hr target.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Day one completed. These guys'n'gals of the airport fire service are an amazing bunch of individuals who show that when you combine organisation, team work with generosity of human heart anything is possible. Well done. They ate underway now from Athlone to Killaloe, tomorrow the tidal Shannon estuary to the edge of the Atlantic.

 

[oceanfroggie]

DAPFS - Congratulations - Rowed over 300km in only 3 days the entire length of the Shannon from Lough Allen to Foynes


“You guys are one of the most inspiring group of men and women I have ever met, including the rowers, coxwains, support crews on the water and land. Spirited, determined, tough, ultra professional, brave, yet kindness of heart and generosity shone through especially when the going got really tough, which it did, yet your care and support of each other as a team is something remarkable. It was a privilege to see you guys endure, persevere and succeed. Congratulations from all your new friends on the Shannon.”


Arriving Victoria Lock Friday 11:40

Emerald Star - Mother goose crew support vessel

Tucked in behind IWAI cruiser acting as a wind breaker

Crew change rib

Lough Derg - Civil defence safety rib following as wind starts to get up

Wind getting up - shortly after these pics it became F5 so a tough row but these guys'n'gal are tough, determined and full of perseverance

Lough Derg in sheltered waters - but strong westerly up Scarriff bay and Parkers point bekons

Support cruisers try to act as wave smoothers and wind break

At last some shelter in Killaloe bay

Wicklow Civil Defense safety rib - these guys were a great support on and off the water with their ground team, vans, mini-bus and ambulance.

Last crew change of Friday just north of Killaloe

Take her home - Joanne at the head of the boat

Killaloe Bridge

Kincora Marina where the boats overnighted

The team packup all their gear from the Emerald star helmed by Dave McCabe and Keith Roe on the Friday and Martin Donnelly on the Thursday. Well done Emerald Star for lending such a fabulous support vessel.

0600am Saturday morning departing Kincora Marina for Foynes

Killaloe Bridge 06:10am

Ardnacrusha head race canal in the mist and rain - 9km no turbines

... continued

 

[oceanfroggie]

... continued

Photo op instide Ardnacrusha's upper lock chamber - 102ft drop

The resting crews just before a crew change inside Ardnacrusha

Wo - who turned out the lights - It's like going down a mine shaft in a boat

Ardnacrusha from inside the lower lock on the way down

Entering the Abbey river in Limerick - no flow no turbines

What timing - Look the support crew vehicles on O'Dwyers bridge

Arriving Limerick city to sirens from support vehicles

After a few hours in Limerick waiting for the tide to turn, watch the 1st half of the Lions match the next crew depart Arthurs Quay moorings in Limerick

Resting rowers on IWAI crew support vessel

Crew change underway as rowers transferred from support rib to support cruiser

17:03 Saturday over 320km in 3 days arriving Foynes port on the Shannon Estuary

You've done it - Yehaw - Congrats

Adrennaline masking aches and pains

Dublin Airport Police & Fire Service Rowing Team

What an inspiring team of determined yet warm hearted generous individuals knitted into a team as close as a family

DAPFS - We salute you - Job Done

Bubbles and spray of celebration

Welcome spray for a change - Congrats guys'n'gals of the entire teams including rowers, support boats, land support crews, logistics folks, sponsors and donors to the three charities this was all about

Please nice kind forum members support their charities

Bee for Battens
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Down-Syndrome Ireland

Donate Here (secure MyCharity.ie web site)

In the words of one of our support skippers:
If you sponsored a fiver or a tenner it was well earned if you haven't you still might .....