On their way to Antigua, the Team Atlantic Splash crew will face 40ft waves, sharks and whales, maritime traffic and sleep deprivation while rowing at all time of night and day in continuous two-hour shifts.
Following months of physical and mental training, the crew will hope to complete their oceanic odyssey in 35 to 45 days, with an eye on the current record for a five-man crossing: 37 days, 5 hours and 50 minutes.
The record isn’t the prime target for Team Atlantic Splash, however. The rowers (four of them usually row coastal boats at Worthing Rowing Club, Marc Alderman rows for Folkestone Rowing Club) are aiming to raise £200,000 both to cover the costs (about £70,000) and to support four charities: The Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, The Tall Ships Youth Trust, The British Heart Foundation and the Macular Disease Society.
“We have chosen charities that are really important to us, but also, put together, reflect the challenges faced by all of us throughout the journey of life”, explains Neal Marsh, “We are lucky to be fit and healthy and taking on this row for a noble cause was the best way for us to thank our good fortune”.
All members of the crew are very conscious that the journey will be punctuated with many obstacles, even before lining up for the start in the Canary Islands. Physical training, navigation and first aid at sea courses and a lot of fundraising events are coming ahead of the team, if they want to reach their fundraising target.
Then it will be time to think as competitors, hoping that both the boats and the elements will be supportive of Team Atlantic Splash’s attempt to complete the crossing in a record time. “Our prime target is to row the boat successfully to Antigua and reach our fundraising target of £200,000”, Bastien Leclair explains, “but the World Record is also an achievable target. With the right sort of preparation and a little help from the Ocean, we firmly believe we can do it!”
‘Find out more about Team Atlantic Splash’s endeavours by visiting www.rowtheatlantic2013.co.uk.
