As well as the usual array of fantastic yacht racing, with 1,000 yachts and 8,500 competitors featuring, this year’s Skandia Cowes Week also saw another stage in Gus Mckechnie’s year of fundraising. With two rowing machines a team of volunteers, the aim was to try and row one million metres over the course of a week, solely on the deck of the Red Funnel ferries “Red Falcon” and “Red Osprey” when they were running.

Their challenge began on Saturday, August fourth, and the first two starters, Gus Mckechnie and Jonny Sowden, were greeted by good weather on the “Red Falcon”, which was not typical for this British summer. The distance and money collection over the first two days soon clocked up and the team was already off to a flyer. With support from Concept2 the team was always going to be recognisable in their white t-shirts.

With the volunteer help increasing, the team managed to spread themselves across two ferries for the rest of the week. The metres soon increased but the group were either dealing with the heat or the rain, which made it even more humid. The team had some female help and two very young members on a number of days. Rosie Haines from Solent University not only contributed to the metres but her enthusiasm was valuable in letting Red Funnel customers know what was going on. Kirsty Bladen from Coalporters brought her two young sons Tom and jack. Jack was the first to jump on the machine; Jack had won gold at the BIRC competition winning j10 in 2006.

Despite the extra help it was felt an extra push was needed. Gus then pushed through the night making his shift a forty hours one up to the Cowes week fireworks. It turned out the push put the team further ahead than needed with them being joined by two fresh bodies from Solent University Boat Club. The final two journeys on the “Red Falcon” went into the evening with minimal rowing. Finally Gus rowed the final 6km, finishing to coincide with the spectacular firework display. A million metres were completed over the week with the rowing taking place only while the ferries were moving.

Overall the event was a great success, raising almost £7,000. This is just one of a number of challenges this year for Gus who has the genetic condition haemachromatosis. To find out more information or to sponsor online go to: http://www.justgiving.com/bombayduck or call Gus on 07919 955793.