The distance between Donaghadee, Co Down and Portpatrick, Wigtownshire, is approximately 22 miles and is one of the trickiest sea crossings in UK waters. On one Saturday in July 1985, after waiting a week for a favourable weather forecast, four members of the Lagan Scullers Club set off at 8.13 am to attempt to make the first ever crossing in sculling boats, two singles and one double.

Avril Forsyth and Dusty Anderson, in the double, and Stephen Chambers (not in picture) and Bill Jacques, singles, made the difficult crossing in 3 hours 46 minutes, backed up by two support boats under the command of Captain Bill Long and Ivan Nelson. Over £900 was made in sponsorship, shared between the Donaghadee lifeboat station and the scullers club.

photograph by courtesy of Colin Watson.