A father-of-four is among six men hoping to become the first ever crew to row across the Atlantic in fewer than 30 days.
Ian Rowe, 46, from Harrold, joined the group for the Atlantic Odyssey challenge as part of a ten-year ambition to row the ocean.
The team, which also includes Simon Brown – the brother of Bedford Modern School’s director of rowing, the current world record-holding skipper Matt Craughwell (who completed the trip in 33 days last year), roundthe- world cyclist Mark Beaumont and Arctic-rower Yaacov Mutnikas, set off on January 2.
They left Tarfaya in Morocco and this week were more than a quarter of a way through the 3,100 mile trip to Port St Charles in Barbados.
And they’re hoping to do it in fewer than 30 days to beat the current record as well as raising money for Have a Heart’s Childline Appeal.
From the boat Mr Rowe told us: “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done but morale is good.
“In the first five days your body goes into shock. Some of the guys are sea-sick.
“The regime is brutal and it’s two hours on rowing, two off, no matter what.
“We are all battered and bruised. Sudacrem is the main thing for us.” The father-of-four, who’s the director of Bedford-based personal performance coaching company Gold Fever, said he’s been missing his family including his wife Lisa, with whom he works.
She said: “Because we work together and see each other so much it’s been a real heartwrench. I thought it would have been easier by now.” Mr Rowe added: “The support from people back home is amazing.
It has been rough but we all feel pretty good.” He emphasised that they’re trying to get as many schools as possible to follow them with the hope of inspiring the students.
You can track the crew’s progress on our website www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk or at www.atlantic-odyssey.com
