I got a crash course in Venetian rowing – and saw the city like never before

‘Put your body into it. You don’t need strong arms, it’s all in the wrists.’

I’m standing unsteadily on a flat-bottomed wooden Venetian boat, clutching an oar in both hands, trying to follow Nan McElroy’s instructions on how to steer this beautiful craft without falling into the canal. She’s behind and I’m in the middle, getting a crash…