A gripping battle between the experience of ex-naval officer David Hosking and young skipper Josh Taylor is being played out off the south Devon coast.
Taylor, leader of the Islanders has managed to keep his boat the Black Oyster just ahead of Hosking’s four-man crew on Hallin Marine II for almost four days and nights.
But as the leaders head towards Land’s End, their first major landmark on the 2,000-mile route, BOTH the Islanders AND Team Hallin are ahead of World Record pace.
Race Headquarters has now moved to the West Country to watch for the six crews competing in GBRow 2013 as they approach the Lizard and Land’s End, the most southerly point on this epic race to win the biggest prize in rowing.
Current estimates are that the leaders – The Islanders, Team Hallin and the Oarsome Adventures team of six in Boudica – will round Land’s End either late tomorrow or on Thursday morning.
Look out for our bulletins over the next 24 hours for revised timings when the crews will go past Land’s End.
At 8pm tonight, the Islanders were less than 12 miles from Start Point, near Salcombe, with Team Hallin seven miles behind.
Oarsome Adventures, on a more northerly track, were 30 miles from Start Point.
Fourth place Pure Row, skippered by Claire Shouksmith, were at anchor 10 miles west of the Isle of Wight, while Savoir Faire were at anchor off Bembridge on the Island’s east Coast.
After another frustrating day battling winds that threatened to blow their boat, Pendovey Swift, onto the north Kent shore, the Coast Girls – Sally Kettle and Charlene Ayres – were again at anchor between Herne Bay and Margate.
They both remain cheerful and you can listen to their audio blogs on the home page.
Charlene, from Cardiff, is recovering after three days of sea sickness and building up her strength again on a diet of chocolate crème eggs!