The day started at 10am, with the Safety Swimmers slipping into the lake to test out the water temperature (refreshing!). The Dorney Safety Launch was out on the water, available if required.

After a detailed briefing from Carol, the Safety Adviser, each rower took their turn to climb into the single. This was pulled a safe distance from the floating pontoon by the swimmers, this was found to be far quicker and safer than trying to manouevre sideways using the blades, especially for the novices.

In their own time each rower performed the capsize then swam with the boat to the end of the pontoon, accompanied by a swimmer and under Carol's watchful eye. After clambering back onto the pontoon it was off to the changing rooms for a dry set of clothes!

Age and experience was no barrier to taking a dip, and veteran rower Eve gamely took her turn and proved such an enthusiastic swimmer that she was on course to drag the boat all the way across the lake until being guided onto the end of the pontoon!