The Vesta Scullers Head on the Tideway is one of those landmark events that any aspiring Sculler needs to do if only to get a bit of street-cred with the guys at the club. For the skiers amongst you it’s like nailing a nasty black run first thing in the morning !

I was lucky to have an invitation to join Dave Jillings at his Tideway club for a couple of outings during the week before the race proper. The drive down to the Civil Service Club wasn’t looking good with high winds and rain. I figured that Dave would give it a miss due to the weather but I was wrong ! Lets paddle up to the start and then I will take you down the course and show you where to go !

It would be fair to say this was a baptism of fire with a good wind over tide chop stopping me in my tracks and then a bit of advice about what to do and general instructions to get on with it ! The route down- stream was explained in detail with instructions to keep in the deep water to get maximum benefit from the ebb tide and the river and sweeping around the outside of centre on the bends instead of cutting the corners. There was also details about keeping away from Fulham Football Ground ( not something I have had a problem with in the past ) as there is a shallow bank on that side. Finally, getting the cross over at Hammersmith Bridge, under the second lamp post on the right, before the black buoy and on to the finish. How was I going to remember all this stuff on race day ? Once at Putney Bridge it was time to turn around and head in to the river and last of the tide back to the club.  I know this does not make sense but it seemed to me that the wind was against us both ways. We got back to the club having done my first 10 miles in a single on the Tideway and it felt a real sense of achievement and tired !