More than 600 rowers to compete at Viking Longboat Championships
More than 600 people are preparing to compete at the 62nd annual Viking Longboat World Championships in the west of the Isle of Man.The contest will see 62 crews of 10 people row authentic longboats in a 1,312ft (400m) sprint in Peel Bay on Saturday.Championship secretary Jimmy Lee said it was a "very Manx" competition that took place in "one of the Manxest places you'll find".He said most teams "go out for a laugh in the race against the clock", which was "an all out five-minute row" for those in the boats.
Teams in the 2025 competition included one group called the Greeba Goats and another made up of members of the Manx Parliament of Tynwald.Meanwhile, the Whitehouse Odin's Vikings will celebrate their 50th anniversary of taking part, with two members from the original 1975 crew still involved and another who rowed in the first competition.
Every crew member in the event is required to row using an 11ft (3.3m) oar and each team must complete at least two practice runs in preparation for the event, which was first held in 1963.Mr Lee said the rehearsals were important because getting 10 people to row together for the first time was "like herding cats".The secretary, who is also set to compete, said: "It's one of those events that's gotten under people's skin on the island, and once you've done it you feel hard of stopping."The event will see the closure of sections of East Quay, Victoria Road, Crown Street and Shore Road by Peel harbour from 11:30 to 18:30 BST, but emergency access will be maintained at all times.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
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