The cross-Channel dragon boat race between a team of upmarket women — The Sisterhood — and a group of monkish men — The Brotherhood — was won decisively by the men, despite their veering off course for part of the way.

The Sisterhood begin their challenge

Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton, was forced to pull out of the race earlier because of security fears.

By chance, it was possibly the best conditions of the summer on the treacherous English Channel, renowned for its tidal rips, deadly shoals and deceptive sandbanks. The calm waters allowed the men to post a scintillating time of 3 hours and 31 minutes, smashing the previous record.

The ladies set off in near mill pond conditions and were heartened to hear the men had lost their way. However, they encountered choppy conditions approaching France and were nearly sunk by water surging over the sides of their flat-bottomed boat. Had the Channel been anywhere near its normal self, it’s doubtful whether either team would have made it to Gallic shores.

But make it they did, although bested by a team of very strong and experienced rowers. A commendable performance by both crews, raising around £100,000 ($200,000) for charity.

But what if Kate had been there at the helm of the ladies’ boat? Royal Anecdotes has no doubts that The Sisterhood would have triumphed.

The media is only covering the women’s side of the Big Boat Race on August 25, involving Kate Middleton and The Sisterhood all-women team.

The Sisterhood team steered by magnificent Kate Middleton

This is a slight to the men’s team, The Brotherhood, who are presented as a support act to the curvaceous and immensely talented bunch of Sisterhood chicks, led by A-List celebrity Kate Winslett Middleton. Here at last is a picture of the gallant men’s crew :

Nelson’s finest, The Brotherhood. England expects.

I had to go to the Melbourne Herald Sun to dig out some comments from the lads. #

Men’s team The Brotherhood fears the speedboats full of photographers chasing the girls’ team will hamper their efforts. Queenslander Johnson, 27, said there was a strong chance the men would capsize and was ready to put his lifeguard training to use.

Strang, 34, of Perth, who runs a London-based toy company that exports boomerangs to Australia, said the challenge was “more adventure than we knew we were getting in for. Because of Kate’s involvement, we’ve had TV crews from the US and reporters from Germany. It’s turned a little crazy,” he said.

If the Aussies among them want a local comparison to the difficulty level of this crossing, I suggest they think in terms of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day each year. It’s not as long, but it may prove even more hazardous.

It’s time someone got behind the men’s team in this race. Royal Anecdotes will be flying Nelson’s famous flag salute on the day : “England expects every man to do his duty.”