Cracknell takes lead in ocean rowing race

Cracknell back in the lead

Taking a break from rowing after his Athens Olympic win, Great Britain’s James Cracknell has been on the hunt for adventure. So when self-professed ?poor rower? and British television presenter, Ben Fogle suggested rowing for 4,800km, Cracknell said ?yes".

Rowing under the name Spirit of EDF Energy, Cracknell and Fogle have joined 25 other boats in the 2005 Atlantic Rowing Race and is now the leading double. For the first two weeks the duo sat around sixth position out of the 20 doubles competing. Working in shifts of two hours rowing each, Cracknell and Fogle managed a record-breaking 120km in one day followed by 132km. This far exceeded their previous day totals and propelled them into first with only two four-person boats ahead of them. 

But the first hurricane to hit these waters in 51 years, Hurricane Epsilon, means that all crews are currently at anchor, and have been, for the last two days. Laying anchor in about 3,000 metre deep water means throwing out from the boat a giant parachute-like device to stop the boat from drifting in these force 7-8  gale conditions (force 12 being hurricane conditions).

Towey holding his position

Competing against Cracknell is fellow Olympic rower Geariod Towey of Ireland and his rowing partner Ciaran Lewis. Towey is taking a break from competitive rowing and, like Cracknell, will potentially return to elite rowing to aim for the Beijing Olympics. Currently Towey and Lewis are in eighth position and Towey reported on his website that the hurricane has forced them into their cabin for an ?uncomfortable night listening to whatever was going on outside.?

Fogle provided insight into life at sea when he described in his first racing dispatch how his whole body ached. His hands, feet and bottom are blistered and he is enduring a swollen finger from being hit by an oar which affects his grip. 

There are also two all-female fours crews, a French amputee team and two single-handed rowers taking on the challenge. Crews include rowers from 30 countries including Guatemala, the United States, New Zealand and Denmark.

Record holders, James Fitzgerald and Kevin Biggar (2003) in the standard boat used.

The Atlantic Rowing Race began on 30 November in the Canary Islands and will finish around the end of January 2006 in Antigua, West Indies.

The current race record (for doubles) is 40 days.

To follow the race go to: www.atlanticrowingrace.co.uk

Related Links
Cracknell joins Atlantic rowing race
Atlantic race summons Towey
Atlantic rowing race record

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