Posted by Ian Powers, Windsor Boys coach.
Taken from a local paper.
Stroke Mark Wallage 3 Harry Rolfe2 Adam Hunter Bow Mark Wilkinson
These boys were aware that a very strong crew from Wycliffe College were thefavourites but were determined to put in a good show.
All went to plan, and the Windsor crew rowed a strong race up to the lastfew hundred metres when they had noticeably gained ground on the KCSWimbledon crew who had started 10 seconds before them. In a last dash, itseemed that the Windsor crew would overtake Wimbledon, but as the boyspowered down the course at about 20 mph, a Marshall^Òs launch was seen todrive out into the stream, directly at Windsor.
Amid shouts from the spectators on the bank, the launch driver saw theapproaching Windsor boat and the launch was seen to swerve back towards thebank, avoiding running over the crew, but presenting its slab side to theoncoming Windsor craft. In an instant, the Stämpfli hit the launchbroadside and snapped the first foot off the nose of the boat.
At 14:30 pm, in a scene reminiscent of the Titanic drama, the front of theWindsor boat filled with water and she started to sink bow first.
The offending launch continued its journey, and the Windsor crew could donothing but release their shoes and abandon ship. The three crew towards thefront of the now settling boat took to the water, relieving some load andallowing Mark Wallage at Stroke to remain in the boat supported by theflotation tanks under each seat.
Windsor estimate that they would have won the event by about 10 seconds,possibly setting a course record, but all they are left with is a shatteredhull which will cost ten thousand pounds to replace.
The boat was bought last summer with funds raised by parents through jumblesales and other fund raising events."
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