The Route and planning

The row started from Westminster Bridge and proceeded downstream to the Thames estuary, around North Foreland past Dover and across the Channel towards Calais. The route then went southwest to Le Havre and in to the Seine where 200 miles of twisting river and six locks awaited the team. The row finished at Pont d'Lena opposite the Eiffel tower.

This challenge wass a race of many parts.  There are a number of factors which influenced the rower's decision as to when to start.  The significant wave height in May and June in the Channel is less than in September, however, there is more chance of meeting stronger river currents in the Seine in May or June due to melt water coming from the mountains. 

A key factor is the restriction of not being allowed to navigate the lower section of the Seine at night.  This last factor means the rowers had to arrive at the mouth of the Seine early in the morning to be able to complete the "daytime navigation only" section in daylight (about 60 miles) and this arrival at the mouth also had to coincide with the start of a flood tide.

 The Normandie Bridge on the Seine estuary

Coincidentally, the only time early morning coincides with a flood tide is during spring tides and this obviously increased the likelihood of choppy seas in the channel.

On balance the team decided to head for the earliest feasible date in late May.  This date gave them the advantage of long daylight hours and a full moon.