The four British rowers attempting to break the world record for the fastest Atlantic row have crossed the important half-way mark of their 2,100-mile row from St John’s to Falmouth in Cornwall.
Having rowed unassisted for 23 days, they now have to reach Bishop’s Rock, off the Isles of Scilly by August 23 in order to break the world record for the fastest Atlantic row. The men have battled storms, counter-currents and unseasonal weather including minus 20?c windchill to reach the point where they are now closer to the UK than Canada.
Skipper Mark Stubbs, 40, from Poole in Dorset, with Jonathan Gornall, 48, from London, Pete Bray, 48, from South Wales and John Wills, 33, from Surrey, hope to raise ?50,000 for the British Heart Foundation.
The latest captain’s log reads, “The air temperature is 23 degrees and the visibility sparkling…Morale is sky high on Pink Lady and this has been boosted by good weather and the sight of tuna and dolphins leaping close by.” During the 23 days at sea, only a few days have seen the sunshine that is necessary for the boat’s solar powered energy needs for such important tasks as desalination of sea water.
The Pink Lady Atlantic First row is the culmination of six years of boat building and development plus two years of high endurance training.
Shore Team Manager for the Pink Lady, Bob Barnsley told ScillyNews: “They have ‘climbed the hill’ with toes, knees, elbows and fingernails. They now have home in their sights.” The crew celebrated with swigs of Newfoundland Screech liquor donated by Canadian supporters, a breakfast of porridge and apples but perhaps appreciated most of all, a complete change of kit.
The crew has no time to wash clothes so each rower started off with four entire kits, to be changed in full on reaching each quarter distance of the way.