Ship ahoy, they might have said – but they were about as far from the sea as they could be in Britain.
This was the scene as members of Kidlington Round Table got themselves in shape for a big charity row.
A little practice on dry land to get them in shape was the best they could do when the Oxford Mail photographer turned up in 1982.
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The Round Tablers were getting ready for a 47-mile row on the Thames from Oxford to Henley.
The annual event had as usual attracted crews from numerous Round Tables, with every one raising money for a particular charity or good cause of their choice.
The Kidlington team had decided to donate any money they raised to the Sick Newborn and Their Parents group (SSNAP) attached to the special care nursery at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
We know the name of only one of the crew – village hairdresser Norman Davies, nearest the camera on the left, who owned the dinghy.
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Doctors and nurses from the special care unit were to join 11 Round Table members, taking turns to row.
The crews were due to leave Donnington Bridge and finish 10 hours later at the Leander club in Henley.
The previous year, the event had attracted 35 crews from Round Tables all over the country.
SNNAP champions the right of all sick and premature babies treated in Oxford to receive the best care.
It supports families seven days a week, purchases life-saving equipment and enable life-changing research and training.
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This year marks the 40th anniversary of SSNAP and the dedicated NHS staff that care for them at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF