Charity
Crossing the Atlantic? In a rowing boat? Why wouldn’t you… Scribe: Lt Col Mac McCarthy (Team Elijah’s Star)
‘Y
es’. It’s an easy word to say. Rolls off the tongue, and is probably one of the most commonly used words, just behind ‘No’. And so, when friends, on a Zoom call during lockdown back in April 2020, asked me if I wanted to row across the Atlantic, it was easy to say ‘Yes’. I think I was still a little delirious coming off the back of a bout of CV19 but the question was asked, I looked at Julie, my long suffering far better half, who rolled her eyes as if to say ‘whatever’, and said ‘Yes’. But there are implications to saying ‘Yes’… Now, with 6 weeks to go before departure (less by the time you read this), the implications of that one small Home! Lady Jayne – our Rannoch R45 Ocean Rowing Boat, two in the front and two in the back word are looming large. Some quick facts and figures about rowing the Atlantic… closest people? – international space station; nearest land? – about 5 think that this might be quite a social time with boats rowing together miles – straight down; more people have been into space than rowed for long periods, but the reality is you probably won’t see another sole any ocean; more people climb Everest every year; storms and 40-foot until arriving in Antigua. Within days, the fleet can be hundreds of miles waves; capsize (most boats go over at some point); salt sores and apart. blisters; hallucinations and fatigue; sea sickness and cramps; daily As to safety, we’re entirely self-sufficient carrying all our rations and calorie intake – 6.000kcal but regardless, average weight loss is 12kg. supplies and we rely totally on a solar powered water maker – mission We’ll row for two hours and then rest for two hours. And then row for critical equipment. We carry a comprehensive medical pack including two hours and rest for two hours, constantly. 24 hours a day. For about anti-biotics (I’m the medic) and we have satellite comms and a BGAN 6 weeks. for safety and social media. We have a GPS system that tells us where We are a team of four, I’m serving, two ex-Army (one REME) and one we are and what might be near-by, an auto-helm for the rudder and of ex-Navy, and we’re going to sit down on our 28-foot Rannoch R45 course, a compass - just head West! We each carry a personal locator rowing boat on the 12 December 2021 and not get off until sometime beacon (PLB) at all times on a safety belt and we are always harnessed in mid to late January 2022. And none of us are rowers in any true to the boat – unless going over the side to clean the hull when we can sense. We’ll row 3.000 miles due west from La Gomera in the Canaries, be on a longer rope and then we conduct Shark Watch in the very real to the island of Antigua in the Caribbean and this will all take place sense of the phrase. We carry a fully equipped life raft and emergency under the banner of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. This is an food and water along with a hand-held water maker. The loo is a bucket annual race organised by Atlantic Campaigns and is simply described and, oh the luxury, it’s got a seat! There are two Atlantic Campaigns as ‘The World’s Toughest Row’. No arguments there. This year, there will safety yachts out there, somewhere, but if we get into trouble they can be nearly 40 boats – from solos (absolute nutters), through pairs, be 5 days away. The ability to maintain and repair the boat and its threes, fours and fives. There’s a staggered start in La Gomera with the systems is essential to a successful crossing. It really is about being selfsolos leaving first and 5 minutes between each departing boat. You’d sufficient.
For those that remember him, Phil Bigland is still scruffy. Have to admit though, the best fresh mackerel I’ve ever eaten
28 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
‘The Paddock’. 2020/21 start line, San Sebastian Harbour, La Gomera. Christopher Columbus sailed from here when he discovered the America by accident
