Monster the Loch - £2500 Raised

On 6th September 2025 a motley crew of Penguins (Pat Davis, Guy Cartwright, Al Crawford, Roy Dixon and Charlie Beardmore) will attempt to row approximately 21 miles along Loch Ness as part of the Monster the Loch challenge.

If you can support this monster effort please donate here: https://gofund.me/ffc4c329

Update - £2500 raised in this monster effort, congratulations and thanks to the motley crew, hope the blisters have cleared up!

Thanks to Charlie for the entertaining report.

PENGUINS AT LOCH NESS – 6^TH SEPTEMBER 2025

It is unsurprising that Penguins, along with other creatures, may be seen at Loch Ness and this was definitely the case for the Monster the Loch (MTL) challenge.  A motley crew (Al, Guy, Pat, Roy and Charlie) assembled to row 21 miles along the Loch to raise money for the registered charity Penguins Against Cancer (www.penguinsagainst cancer.org.uk).

We were a seasoned and weighty quintet totalling 300 years of age and 500 kg.  Rowing experience varied greatly amongst the group.  Roy, having previously completed MTL and indeed having rowed across the Atlantic, was a veteran.  Al and Guy were novices.  Initial planning saw Roy as the knowledgeable one, and the lightest in the crew, coxing the boat.  However, Guy (who was going to be the powerhouse amidships) sustained a significant training injury and therefore he and Roy swapped roles.  This meant that we were not only the oldest crew amongst 120 odd boats in MTL, but we now had the heaviest cox at 120kg.

We were fortunate to be very generously offered a free coaching session by Staines Boat Club, which went far better than any of us dared hope.  The following week we gathered at Fort Augustus to be shown our hired boat, a sleek ocean going coxed quad scull.  We decided a practice was in order so set off with gusto.  It soon became apparent, however, that we were taking on a significant quantity of water.  We returned to shore and sought advice.  A very helpful Irishman then indicated that we needed to fit a non-return flap on the self-bailing mechanism to avoid it being a self-flooding mechanism.  The flap was located and fitted and we set off again, still taking on some water but much less.  We had also been assured that if we rowed fast enough, all the water would self-bale out of the back of the boat.

The majestic Loch Ness

The errant Flap

Practice over, we returned to our accommodation at Morag’s lodge and tucked into Nessie burgers and some local craft ale, as well as the obligatory whisky.  The following morning dawned too early, and, following a breakfast of porridge and butteries (aka ‘rowies’ or Aberdeen roll - a flat, salty and flaky pastry optimistically described to us as a ‘Scottish croissant’) we repaired to the Loch shore.  We had thought it prudent to cut up some water bottles to provide devices for baling. We launched the boat and waited for the starting gun.  It was clear that we were shipping water whilst stationery.  Guy the Cox was bailing furiously (and continued to do so for the next 5 hours, shifting approximately 1 pint of water every 5 seconds for nearly 5 hours or approximately 450 gallons total – that is why he has arms like Garth). Once we started rowing the situation eased a little.  The tiller mechanism took some getting used to but after a couple of early pirouettes we headed on a steady course.

Pat working hard

Pat's hand afterwards

We subsequently surmised that we were handicapped by the outflow of the self-baling mechanism being below the waterline (due to the weight of the crew and on board water).  If we had been able to row faster this would have helped. We continued without stopping for 21 miles (stopping = flooding).  We eventually reached the end of the course, not quite last but very near the back of the field, and landed thankfully, handed over the boat and celebrated with some cleansing ale.  Fellow participants were very friendly with one even stating ‘I’m surprised you made it.  You don’t see many people baling before the start’.

Journey's End

The Motely Crew

We managed to raise over £2500 for Penguins Against Cancer (PAC) which has been used as part of a Grant from PAC to support Macmillan hospice care. Thank you to all our supporters and those who very generously donated to PAC.

All in all a great experience and very educative.  Some learning points:

·        Ensure the flap is fitted

·        Row faster

·        Consider getting a lighter crew

The Penguins intend to return to the Loch next year.