GB ROW CHALLENGE : 6 men in the same boat for the 2010 nm race

From 1st June 2010, six men will be taking part in the Anglo American Boat Race and will be rowing 2010 miles non-stop and unaided around Great Britain. Their aim is to win the race and smash the 26-day World Record whilst raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity at the same time. Considered by most ocean rowers to be far tougher than any other ocean row, this expedition truly is the ultimate test of human endurance. But with a combined rowing experience totaling 78 years and a former Atlantic Rowing Race winner skippering them the crew has every confidence that they have what it takes to make history.

The crew is made up of four British and two South African rowers whose ages range from 25 to 39. They are Bill Godfrey, Dave Pattle, Dan Jenkins, Joe Leiserach, Jonny Hewett and Adam Anderson.

In order to achieve their formidable goal the crew will row in shifts, taking it in turns to row for 90 minutes and rest for 90 minutes, 24hrs a day. Pushing themselves to the absolute limit will mean that the crew will lose an average of 15% of their body weight. They will also have to contend with a host of ocean rowing ailments such as bottom blisters, tendonitis and salt sores. Crews rowing across the Atlantic often row naked in an attempt to heal some of these problems but without the privacy of the open ocean this crew may well attract some unwanted attention when they start stripping off. Not surprisingly the lads are going to have to take every possible opportunity to do just that if they want to get to the finish in one piece.

As well as physical problems the crew will face the notoriously challenging tidal conditions found around the British coastline and will have to contend with the frustrations of being held up by tides, winds and currents. As a result, most ocean rowers describe this expedition as the toughest ocean row there is and the race organisers state on their website that ‘99% of ocean rowers need not apply’.

The crew are all experienced rowers with offshore experience. They are all racing to win. British gig rower Jonny Hewett says “during my north-south ski traverse of Iceland last year I decided that my next expedition would need to push the boundaries even further. This race is the perfect opportunity to do just that.”

The crew will also have to pay careful attention to the weight of the boat because the lighter they are the better their chances of success. The skipper Bill Godfrey says “this is a cut the end off your toothbrush expedition. I won’t be letting the guys bring anything other than the bare essentials. Not only do we want to break the current record, but we also want to set an unbeatable benchmark for the crews who come after us.” ENDS

ABOUT THE RACE

The Anglo American Boat Race is a 2010 mile circumnavigation of Great Britain in ocean rowing boats departing from Tower Bridge in London on the 1st of June. It is non-stop and unaided so crews will need to be completely self sufficient for the 3-4 weeks they will be at sea. Trans-Atlantic ocean rowing races have been running regularly since the early 1990s, but this is the first time an ocean rowing race has been held so close to land. The race originated in 1872 when a New York club posted a challenge in to the London Rowing Club to row a four-oared race on the Thames. It remained one of the most important races of the season until the Second World War when it was discontinued. 2010 sees it return in its revised format.
 www.gbrowchallenge.com

ABOUT THE BOAT

Sara G is one of only three six-man ocean rowing boats in existence. She was built in 2007 and has completed successful Tasman Sea and Atlantic Ocean crossings. She is 11.1m long with a 1.8m beam. She uses wind and solar power to generate the electricity required to power essential safety and navigation equipment and the water desalination unit. All of the weight is stored below decks to ensure the boat self rights in the event of a capsize. Her forward cabin sleeps 2 (1 at any one time apart from storm conditions) and her rear cabin sleeps 4 (2 at any one time apart from storm conditions). The hull is made of Duflex – a composite material with balsa core sandwiched between fiberglass sheeting. The entire boat is then wrapped in fiberglass for additional rigidity.

 Press info Margaret Bowling / Rowing 2010 miles around Great Britain in 2010 / www.roundgbrow2010.com