Atlantic Rowing Race Winners Break Record

Atlantic Rowing Race: Fitzgerald & Biggar
© Challenge Business

Forty days may seem a long time when your sole view is the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye can see. But for this year’s winners of the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race, 40 days will be half the time of some of their competitors. Jamie Fitzgerald and Kevin Biggar of New Zealand rowed into Port St. Charles, Barbados this weekend covering the 2,900 nautical miles in the fastest time ever.

Of the 16 boats that began the race in La Gomera, Canary Islands, on 19 October, 11 are still racing, one has retired and two will continue to row but are no longer official entrants. The final boats are expected to arrive in Barbados in January 2004.

Despite the expansive distance a close battle was fought between the two leading boats with never more than 50 miles separating Fitzgerald and Biggar from defending race champions and fellow New Zealanders, Steve Westlake and Matt Goodman. Westlake and Goodman held the lead for the majority of the race until one week ago when Fitzgerald and Biggar worked their way to a small lead. 

But with less than 80 miles to go disaster struck the leading boat. A series of three waves turned the craft onto a vulnerable angle capsizing the boat and sending both crewmembers into the water. The craft self-righted and Fitzgerald and Biggar were able to scramble on board although the sea claimed their sliding seat along with some mechanical equipment and a life raft.

While most of the crews cover the distance by rotating through two-hour shifts, alternating sleeping and eating with rowing, Fitzgerald and Biggar opted instead for more time rowing together. This strategy was only revealed once they had crossed the finish line and played a key factor in their success. 

For the final days of racing Fitzgerald and Biggar were rowing so much together that sleep time was reduced to five or six hours in each 24 hour period. The team was very much aware of the potential for physical and mental fatigue but managed to stave off potential failure by maintaining a high fat diet of 7,000 calories per day. To achieve this level of calories the team’s diet consisted of chocolate, potato chips and cakes with pre-frozen foods for the main meal. It was not surprising that fresh food ruled the rowers’ thoughts with Fitzgerald craving a simple tomato sandwich.

Fitzgerald comes from a nine-year competitive rowing background that includes representing New Zealand at the World Championships while partner Biggar claims an under-12 Dart competition to his sporting credits.

Second across the line, Westlake and Goodman also broke the course record. Finishing nine hours behind the winners in 40 days and 14 hours, Goodman admitted craving intelligent conversation while Westlake dreamed of fresh fruit and ice cream.

The close race between the top two boats opened up more than a 300-mile lead over the third boat, Team Rowing Home, the first ever entry from Barbados. Phil Als and Randal Valdez of Barbados are expected to finish about a week from now.

The Atlantic Rowing Race is the brainchild of British adventurer Sir Chay Blyth who completed a similar journey in 1966. Each boat contains a crew of two and each crew rows an identical 7.1 metre boat that includes two sliding seats and the same sculling oars as used in standard rowing boats. The next race is set to go in 2005.

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