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Round Britain rowers reach John O'Groats
23 June 2005
FOUR rowers attempting a world record for rowing non-stop 2,000 miles around the British mainland are expected to pass John O’Groats today (Thurs) and begin the final leg of their incredible journey. Sixteen days after leaving London, the GB Row Challenge team will pass John O’Groats, the most northerly point on the mainland.
Grenadier Gurdsmen Lt Will de Laszlo, Lt Ben Jesty, Sgt James Bastin and company director Will Turnage will be facing tides that can rip at 16 knots as they negotiate the Pentland Firth around Duncansby Head next to John O’Groats. |
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The crew in their 23-feet-long boat, Outward Bound, were forced to anchor for five hours last night (Weds) off Cape Wrath as a 40-knot south-westerly threatened top blow them towards Iceland. They began their journey when the wind died down.
As dawn broke the sun finally appeared for the first time in more than 10 days, which means an end to water rationing on board as solar panels used to power their on-board desalination unit can be recharged.
The crew rely on the desalination unit to turn seawater into drinking water for the expedition.
Non-stop circumnavigation of Great Britain in a rowing boat has never been attempted before. Because of Britain's treacherous tides and crowded shipping lanes, this is one of the most dangerous journeys ever to be made in a rowing boat.
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Skipper Will de Laszlo, 26, from London, said: “We found out last night why it is called Cape Wrath. The wind got up to 40 knots and threatened to blow us out to Iceland so we dropped anchor for five hours until the wind died down a bit before rounding the Cape.
“This morning the wind has come round to the west and is now blowing at 35 knots behind us. The good news is that at last the sun has come out and we will have more water to drink.
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