The start for the World’s Toughest Row, which a Galway businessman is participating in, has been put back to this weekend.
As Afloat has reported, Daragh MacLoughlin, from Clarinbridge, Co Galway, flew to the Canary Islands late last month to prepare for the start of the 4,800km solo row to Antigua in the Caribbean.
Launch time had been set at 12 noon on December 11th in Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua, but the new start is now this Sunday, December 14th.
The race involves spending Christmas, the New Year and much of January at sea.
Daragh, one of the few solo rowers taking part in the challenge, has only been involved in the sport for two years.
He says his motivation was to push the boundaries of life – but also to help charities which he believes do not get enough State support.
On his fundraising page, he wants to raise up to €10,000 for Debra, the national charity supporting those living with ‘Butterfly Skin’ disease EB, and for Irish Dogs for the Disabled.
“Thankfully, in our family, we have no-one afflicted by a life-altering condition,” he explained.
“We support charities which are small enough to retain that fighting passion but big enough to make a difference,” he said.
The 42-year-old is self-financing his participation. He says that being self-employed has allowed him the time to prepare – and he will need every ounce of the mental and physical strength banked so far.
He will row for around 18 hours a day, consuming 7,000 calories daily, mostly freeze-dried food including seeds and nuts, and using sea water fit for drinking with an onboard desalinator.
His Dutch-made boat is a seven-metre carbon fibre vessel weighing 400kg when fully loaded.
He says the unwavering support of his wife, Suzanne, and the couple’s two daughters, Maeve and Saoirse, has carried him through.
Daragh has appealed for donations, to be split between both charities, here
