but should judge it to be about half a mile. I remember there were about 45 heats in the race, then the semi finals etc.

Well, I pulled up the river to the starting post, and got badly biffed about by the wash from the two tugs following and guiding with flags, the race then in progress, and lay there untill the tugs returned to guide us.

The pistol cracked and I got away as hard as I could go, gaining about 3 ½ lengths (24 foot skiffs) in my six seconds start, when the pistol cracked again, sending off my opponent. I stuck to it like grim death, and though the water was very choppy I made no mistakes in the way of missed strokes, and at half distance I still had my full lead, and was just congratulating myself, when the offending button on the scull slipped through the left rowlock and before I knew what had happened, I was almost overboard; and to be turned over when the heels are fast with a block of wood, and the toes strapped down tight, is no pleasant experience. The water washed into the boat (the central portion containing the sliding seat being the only position open each end being securely canvassed in to run off water) but by a superhuman effort I threw myself to the other side, then dragged the button back through the rowlock, but by this time I was stationary and my opponent was passing at top speed. I pulled savagely and got to within half a length of the tail of his boat, and we finished in that position. That was my first race, and I am sorry to say my last as I never actually had a chance to develop my powers as a boatpuller, not living near a good stretch of water after this.