Crews of marauding Vikings battled strong winds and choppy seas as they attempted to fight their way to and from Peel harbour.

Around 70 teams of ardent rowers took part in the 2021 World Championship Viking Longboat Races, held in Peel on Saturday.

Each crew, made up from 10 wannabe-Vikings, were forced to pull hard on the oars and battle the strong headwinds as they rowed out from the shelter of the harbour and into the bay, with the waves occasionally lifting the boats clean out of the water, with oars swinging around above the waves.

As usual the event brought crowds of people into the town to watch the men’s, women’s and mixed teams battle it out to make the arduous journey in the fastest time.

The Clarity Cougars won the women’s category with a time of one minute and 47 seconds, with the Viqueens second, coming in a fraction over two minutes.

The men’s competition was a much closer affair, with only three seconds separating the top four boats, with the Sheepskull Enduro Riders winning with a time of one minute and 27 seconds, followed by Farghers Liftmen, Greeba Goatsand the White House Young Vikings Yet Again, who clocked in a time of one minute 30 seconds.

The Raven Raiders won the mixed category with a time of one minute and 30 seconds, with the Sheepskull Enduro Riders team second with one minute 36.