An unusual visitor to Glenarm Marina in County Antrim recently was the rowing boat of the GB Row Challenge. After what must have been an uncomfortable time lying in the open in Glenarm Harbour in a north-westerly, the GB Row Challenge berthed alongside a pontoon, permissible for safety reasons.
This event is the ultimate rowing challenge and covers about 2000 miles. Complex tides and very changeable weather mean good navigation skills are required, as well as the tactical ability to make the most of weather and sea conditions, which can be as important as a team’s strength, stamina, and endurance. The race is organised by rowers who have been there themselves, meaning GB Row’s priority is to ensure teams have an enjoyable and safe race round the spectacular British coastline.
Making up the team are skipper Charles Bromhead (21), Oliver Daw-Lane (21) Harry Lidgley ( 22) and Arthur Chatto (20). In these COVID 19 times, they have been living together and as a result are able to race. The money raised will be split between two great causes; The British Red Cross to help with the Covid-19 efforts and Just One Ocean who are committed to preserving the ocean for future generations. The team have been taking water samples for plastics and carrying out acoustic recordings to test sound pollution in the sea. The acoustic recordings will be analysed by RS Aqua and Portsmouth University and it is expected that the water sample testing will be done there too.
They are also aiming to beat the current Guinness World Record for a UK team rowing unaided around Great Britain which was previously also set by a team led by Will de Laszlo in 2005 at 21 days, 21 hours and 14 minutes.
On board is 35 days’ worth of food and they started on 5th July from London’s Tower Bridge. At the time of writing (9th Aug), they are off the Firth of Forth on the East Coast of Scotland so might have to go easy on the rations or do a bit of fishing!
From Tower Bridge, they headed west down the English Channel and encountered very heavy weather before rounding the Lizard to head across the Bristol Channel and up the Irish Sea. From Glenarm, they continued up the North Channel past the stunning Antrim Coast with its impressive headlands and strong tides, round the most northerly point of the British mainland at Dunnet Head and through the Pentland Firth. Now it’s a southerly passage and you can track the boat at undefined
Event owner of GB Row Challenge Ltd., William de Laszlo is keen to encourage interest in the challenge. He says “You can be any nationality, men or women and can sign up. Entries for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are now being accepted”.
