The Hoff Tries His Hand at Rowing

From Henley on Thames

ACTOR David Hasselhoff has been trying his hand at rowing in Henley.The Baywatch star joined a crew from Upper Thames Rowing Club for a trip along the royal regatta course.Sunseekers and rowers lined the bank to watch him take his first tentative strokes in an eight.Hasselhoff was filming for a “best of British” series for the Living channel, in which he will spend time with Radio 1 DJ and “Hoff” fanatic Scott Mills, when he spotted rowers training for the Henley Royal Regatta next week.After mooring up next to the club’s new �1 million headquarters, the 52-year-old American asked the mixed crew to teach him some techniques — and they were happy to oblige.

Following a short lesson, the eight headed in the direction of Henley Bridge before turning back towards Temple Island.Hasselhoff said afterwards: “It was an amazing experience — I had no idea rowers had to work so hard. It is a real team effort.“I am used to water but this was something else. I really enjoyed myself — I wish I could have told my crew to go home so I could have stayed all day.”Hasselhoff spent a night moored in Hurley on a canal boat he is sharing with his film crew and ate with his daughters in Hotel du Vin in New Street.One crew member, Henley college student Sammy Holt, 17, said it was “surreal” rowing with the actor.“I remember him from Baywatch and it was really strange to meet him,” she said. “He was really nice and polite and genuinely seemed to enjoy himself.”Hasselhoff is best known for his roles as LA County lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch, which he produced until 2001, and Michael Knight in Eighties series Knight Rider.He also enjoyed a music career towards the end of the Eighties, achieving widespread attention for his performance when the Berlin Wall was brought down in 1989. He remains highly popular in German-speaking Europe.A spokesman for Upper Thames Rowing Club said: “We were delighted to welcome David to our club and hope he enjoyed his time with us.”