Rowing club to put oars into film

10:06am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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ONE of Weymouth Rowing Club's prized racing gigs has given up the chance of sporting success to try her hand at becoming a film star.

Penny, one of the club's three gigs along with Sir Tristan and Isolde, is set to appear in The Boat That Rocked when cameras start rolling in Portland this week.

The vessel, with a female crew from the rowing club, launched off from its base in Nothe Parade for a week-long stint of filming in Portland Harbour.

Rower Sally Harris said there was a difficult decision to make when they were asked if they could spare a boat and crew for the Richard Curtis film as the timing coincided with one of the club's major events of the season.

Mrs Harris said: "Sir Tristan and Isolde are over in the Isles of Scilly at the moment for the World Championships.

"We had to leave Penny behind because she had to be ready for the filming.

"We've been told she's going to have a reasonable part and we've got six rowers and a cox who are also going to be involved. We will be there all week and they will be paying us a nice amount for that boat, which will help us to raise funds for a fourth gig.

"We are all taking a week off work and getting paid as extras, we are all really excited about it - particularly as I'm very fond of Bill Nighy!

"We all have to dress in period costume and we are quite looking forward to that part as well."

Mrs Harris said it was a tough decision not to take Penny to the World Championships, particularly as it would have been the first time three boats from Weymouth Rowing Club would have been involved in the competition.

However, the temptation of film stardom proved too much to resist, particularly as the money they will receive will go a long way' towards the cost of a new gig, meaning that in future years they can have four boats at the World Championships.

Mrs Harris said: "You don't get this kind of opportunity very often."