07 Dec 2011
Ocean Race Honours John Fairfax
Directly in the wake of the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race comes the Ocean Rowing Society’s Atlantic Rowing Regatta.
Starting in the Canary Islands on January 20th, the race will cross the Atlantic east to west ending in Barbados 2,900 miles later. This race will include an eclectic bunch of rowers: six solos, seven doubles and a four-person boat from Great Britain, Canada, Spain and Ukraine.
The Atlantic rowing regatta celebrates the 35th anniversary of the first solo Atlantic crossing in a rowboat although competitors will take less days than the180 days it took Fairfax in 1969. The colourful adventurer from Great Britain had held the dream to row across the Atlantic since a young boy and after living a remarkable and unusual life he set out to row from the Canary Island to Miami USA.
The duo of Chris Morgan and Mick Perrens, both British paratroopers, hope to break the current world record set last month by two New Zealanders by finishing in 39 days.
Many of the competitors are on their second attempt at the Atlantic including solo rower Richard Wood who tried in 2001 but had to quit after his rowing partner could not continue. Wood’s feeling of “unfinished business” spurred him to entering this event again.
Mother and daughter Sally and Sarah Kettle make up the only women team and they hope to reach Barbados in 75 days. “I’m sure we are going to have blazing rows,” says Miss Kettle who is going for her second attempt at the ocean row. Miss Kettle’s first attempt, in October last year, was terminated when her rowing partner and boyfriend got severely seasick.
The oldest competitor is Pavel Rezvoy who, at 65 years old, has chosen to attempt the crossing solo. From Ukraine, Rezvoy has helped his son prepare for two Atlantic crossings, which gave him the desire to try for himself.
The Ocean Rowing Society is to hold this event annually. The start date of January 20th corresponds to Fairfax’s start date.