headerbanner

Welcome to the site of Le FigaROW Team

Latest News

Bon Voyage Party

Coming soon, the Bon Voyage Party. Check the Events page for details, how to buy tickets, and to download a poster of the event.

Blog

Click here to read updates on our training and thoughts about the challenge ahead.

Press coverage

There was an article in April's Rowing & Regatta magazine about us. Click here to read it.

 

The Race

The London 2 Paris Rowing Challenge is a race which will be contested in May 2008 by two teams rowing traditional Thames Waterman Cutters around the clock. Departing at midday on May 2 from Westminster Bridge the race will cover a total of 479.5 miles before ending at the Pont d’Iena at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The race between the two boats will be held as a series of timed legs and it is expected to be completed within six days, with both teams rowing 24 hours a day.

 

First Leg: The first 105.5 miles from Westminster to Dover is expected to be completed within 24 hours.

 

Second Leg: The 48-hour slot will start immediately after the first leg’s completion and will see both crews cross the Channel from Dover to Le Havre, a distance of 141.4 miles. It is hoped by running the race in May; we can avoid the worst of the weather. However, although not designed for sea-going racing the boats will be fitted out specifically to deal with the elements and will be able to deal with poor conditions as well as good.

 

Third Leg: The final 233.2 miles is expected to be completed within two and a half days with crews racing on the Seine against the stream in spring floods.

The London 2 Paris History

The first ever successful row made in Thames Waterman Cutters from Westminster to the Eiffel Tower was made in 1990 by a Metropolitan Police crew. Since then only four crews have completed this epic adventure.

Records

The 2008 race will set three new records as it will be the first time ever when more than one boat race in direct competition with one another. It will also be the first time women have competed in the race while never before have the teams been limited to just 10 people. It is hoped the venture will be the first of many similar future events although no other crews after 2008 will be able to claim a place in rowing history by competing in this inaugural event.