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According to Matthew Pinsent, what do rowers throw away at the start of a race?

Hi Trevor,

After I saw your post yesterday afternoon, I started re-reading Pinsent's 'A Lifetime In A Race' to see whether I could find that quotation for you but, 262 pages later, I haven't got an answer!

When do you need to know by?

Regards,

Caravaggio

Thanks so much for trying, I need to know by Sunday, as it has to be posted before I go on holiday.

do they throw down a challenge to their competitors?

Hi Trevor,

I hope that this is the answer! "A last chance to check everything. Water bottles are jettisoned onto the bank, rigger nuts squeezed to check they won't rattle [I have a small spanner in case there's a problem]. The mind goes crazy..."

That, verbatim, is how Pinsent describes the prelude to the Sydney Olympic final which, of course, the GB crew won and he won his fourth gold medal; Redgrave won his fifth.

Good luck,

Caravaggio

I think the answer is spanner, they take a spanner onto the boat as a last minute precaution in case of any problems with their rowlocks which is thrown away before the race to minimise weight in the boat. There is a specific size, I think it may be 3/8" but worth a check. Hope this helps!

Thanks so so so much Caravaggio for all your help.

Thanks also jeta, I just could not find anything.