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Headline news for Exe Endurow

February 3, 2020 by webadmin

A recent article in the Daily Telegraph featured Arthur Chatto and his fellow rowers in Exe Endurow. The team are no strangers to adventure sports, though Arthur and his team-mates admit they are new to rowing. They are currently training hard and learning the skills it takes to navigate around Britain's challenging coastline.

The team have been training on nearby rivers in Edinburgh (where Chatto is in his third year at university) and Exeter (where the other three are doing their finals). “We’ve all been trying our best to get up to standard,” says team mate Oliver Dawe-Lane. “Arthur drove four hours just to find a rowing machine to put in his room.”

They will never be more than 20 miles from the coast, but nevertheless have all been economical with the truth when it comes to telling their parents about the race. “With my mum, I think it’s always best not to tell her the full details and then she can’t get too worried,” says Chatto. “Then, when you’re back – touch wood – she won’t worry as much.”

Chatto’s parents should be used to his galavanting by now. His Instagram account reveals Alpine ascents, Arctic diving and topless trekking in the Scottish highlands – that one was a particular hit with his social media following.

Arthur Chatto (left) with (left to right) team mates Frasier Cutt, Oliver Dawe-Lane and Charles Bromhead (Photo: Christopher Pledger)

His girlfriend, Lizzie doesn't mind his billing as the new most-wanted bachelor (“Oh God, that’s just not true, is it?” he sighs). Apparently, she is “very interested” in the expedition, “because she does Geography like me and Charles, so she’s into the environmental side of it”.

Exe Endurow are raising money for Just One Ocean, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and fighting against plastic pollution in oceans. This charity is committed to tackling a broad and varying range of pollution problems facing the world’s oceans. They undertake projects, and develop solutions working alongside local communities, NGOs and businesses. Key to their approach is enabling learning to occur, through education. Just One Ocean is also passionate about encouraging public engagement, their Big Microplastic Survey programme is focused around citizen science and participation with governments and industries.

Find out more about the team and their fundraising on their website www.exeendurow.com - or take a look at their Justgiving page.

Full article on the Daily Telegraph website: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/meet-arthur-chatto-new-favourite-royal-preparing-row-around/

PRESS RELEASE July 12 2013

July 12, 2013 by webadmin

WEST COUNTRY MEN BREAK WORLD RECORD

FOR ROWING NON-STOP AROUND BRITAIN

Two west country men who have spent the last 26 days rowing 2,000 miles non-stop around Britain set a new world record when they reached Tower Bridge today(Friday).

Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr, from Salcombe, Devon knocked 11 days off the existing world record when they came home after 41days 4hours and 38minutes at sea in a rowing boat no bigger than a family saloon.

On June 1, six boats set off from Tower Bridge to race around Britain’s mainland.

By the end of the first week, when the race reached Land’s End, four crews had abandoned the race, mainly due to mechanical problems caused by rough seas.

The only two boats left racing were a four-man team, the Islanders, as well as Jason and Josh, who are known as Team Savoir Faire.

The four-man crew finished two weeks ago, setting a new world record of 26 days for the epic 2,000-mile non-stop race, the world’s toughest rowing race.

Despite having just two rowers, Jason and Josh have managed to complete the epic journey in under six weeks, living in a boat no bigger than a family saloon.

They braved storms and huge waves in the Irish Sea and were pinned down by bad weather for several days in the north of Scotland.

When they returned to Tower Bridge after nearly six weeks at sea, the two-man crew were met by family and well wishers at the Royal Naval Reserve base, HMS President.

Chris Usborne, race director of GBRow 2013, said: “After battling challenging weather and tidal conditions, Savoir Faire are enjoying excellent weather on their final lap of GBRow 2013. In a measured and very professional row, they have smashed the current world record by 20per cent to become new World Record holders and finish the toughest rowing race in the world.”

Will de Laszlo, race President and skipper of the crew that set the previous world record in 2005 said: “It was an epic effort. Massive congratulations to the record-breaking team. I’m incredibly proud to be involved in an event that hopefully will inspire other people achieve great things.”

For interviews with Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr or race organisers or for more details contact:

Mike Ridley at GB Row 2013

(m) 07836 376 943 T 01474 85 45 45

Email: news@gbrowchallenge.com

www.gbrowchallege.com

Royalty free photos available on http://www.w-w-i.com/gb_row_2013/

Note to Editors

In 2010, Army doctors Nick Dennison and Hamish Reid rowed around UK in 51 days but they started and finished at Lymington, Hants and did not go up and down the River Thames, which adds another two days to journey.

PROFILES:

Name: JASON McKINLAY

Age: 42 Life coach and gym owner

From: Now lives in Salcombe, Devon with wife Sarah and their children Oliver, 3, and baby Emilia Rose, born in February. Originally from Cheshire.

Profile: Jason is an adventurer who has rowed the Atlantic. He has run no fewer than 55 marathons, including a marathon on Everest and the gruelling Marathon of the Sands in the Sahara desert. After rowing around Britain, he hopes to complete the Bob Graham round, covering 42peaks in the Lake District in 24 hours.

Jason is convinced that a pair of rowers is the way to beat the record because of the crew dynamics.

Height: 6ft 3ins 94kilos

Name: JOSH TARR

Age: 27

From: Churchstow, near Salcombe, Devon. Works as a sound recordist and lives with partner Helen.

Profile: Growing up near Salcombe, Josh Tarr is an avid surfer and accomplished sailor. He has also tried his hand at lots outdoor pursuits like kayaking and mountaineering. Last year he cycled alone and unassisted from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity.

Height 6ft Weight 14stone.

FACT FILE:

‘Why is this race the ‘toughest rowing race in the world?’

Totally unaided, crews in GBRow 2013 tackled the most dangerous & fast turning tides on the planet; cross the world’s busiest shipping lanes, have to avoid heavy shipping including car ferries, industrial fishing trawlers & private yachts on autopilot and navigate live firing ranges at Lydd, Wembury & Aberporth. Just being close to & in sight of land for almost the entire duration makes it easy to quit. They will also cover a distance of over 2000 miles in the very unpredictable Great British weather. Put all these together, and GBRow 2013 is tougher than any other rowing race anywhere in the world.

‘What is meant by non-stop and unassisted?’

The crews not allowed tie up into any port during their 2000-mile journey. They must carry all their own food and water. Each boat has a machine onboard to turn seawater into fresh for drinking. They are allowed to anchor at sea if the tide is too strong.

BLOG from Savoir Faire in River Thames Jul 11

July 11, 2013 by Press Office

Blog from Jason at anchor in the Thames upriver from the QEII bridge at the Dartford Crossing:

So its nearly done.. Almost 2000 miles of The British Isles, two men in a small boat. It’s been a truly wonderful experience, with more high’s than we thought we’d have. The only low points, if any, we’re waiting for tides to change so we could carry on the challenge and of course those winds. What we’ve come to realise, is that those moments of waiting we’re as big a part of the challenge as rowing at 10.2 knots in the stormy Irish Sea.

My favourite bits:

The Scottish coastline is breathtaking (apart from Peterhead. I’m taking them some paint for the houses!)

Everywhere was beautiful in different ways and that’s just it. The contrasting scenery of The British Isles is truly amazing. Each changing with the changing conditions.

We know we had incredible weather and wind for the first few weeks but we’ve also been dealt our fair share of the tough stuff too. We’ve had decisions to make and made the right ones and when there’s no decision to be made, we’ve weathered the storms.

This entire epic journey would have been extremely different, genuinely, if it wasn’t for your support and encouragement along the way. Breaking this record and establishing a challenging feat for someone to break in the future for two men on the oars has been truly memorable.

Thank again to everyone.. We cross the line tomorrow, all being well, under Tower Bridge around 12 to 12:30 with the tide.

Jason McKinlay x

BLOG from SAVOIR FAIRE Jun 10

July 10, 2013 by Press Office

New Blog from Josh Tarr on Savoir Faire.

Incredible day yesterday. We made a big push and covered much more distance than we’d hoped with both of us on the oars. We both needed to eat and rest so I stayed on for a couple hours whilst Jay got some food and very little sleep! At that point where Jay closed the hatch and I was left with a light northerly wind pushing us in the right direction, the rowing was very easy.

I settled in for a couple minutes reflecting on some of what we’ve been through and it felt like we were now being allowed to cruise home. It sounds strange but it felt like we’d done it, past all the adversity, the unfavourable weather, the technically challenging parts of the British Isles and now this last part is a formality. I shouldn’t speak too soon because rowing 90 miles down to and up the Thames is as good a challenge as any but in relation to what we’ve already done it feels very comfortable.

With all this in mind, I had a moment, music on, looking past the stern there was some city lights and that light orange haze all around them. I tipped my head back to look straight up and it was one of the clearest skies we’ve had. If this was a film then it could easily have run the credits at that point.

Big love, JT x

RACE UPDATE 09.00BST Jul 10

July 10, 2013 by Press Office

Six hours together on the oars last night, meant Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr made real progress towards the finish of GBRow 2013 – the world’s toughest rowing race.

At the start of day 39 at sea, the pair from Salcombe, Devon are now around 90 miles from the finish at Tower Bridge in London. At the moment, we expect them home early afternoon on Friday (July 12).

That means it will have taken them 41 days to row around the British mainland – a new Guinness World Record for this epic feat.

In a call to race HQ this morning from near Southwold on the Suffolk coast, Josh said: “We are please at how we’re doing. We’re ahead of where we thought we would be.

“We rowed together for six and a half hours last night with the tide and were making six knots at times. I stayed on the oars for two more hours after that to allow Jason to rest.

“But by the time Jason came on for his shift, the tide was too strong. So at 02.30, we anchored for a while. We now have a tail wind blowing about 12 knots and with just Jason on the oars, we are rowing at four knots.

“Our plan is to only have one on the oars when we have the tide with us, changing shifts every two hours. But when the tide is against us, we will double up and keep going,

“The tide is due to turn again this afternoon at about 13.00 – 14.00.”

RACE UPDATE17.00BST Jul 09

July 9, 2013 by Press Office

Savoir Faire are at anchor just south of Happisburgh on the Norfolk coast, 139miles from the GBRow 2013 finish. At this stage it now looks likely they will reach Tower Bridge early on Friday afternoon (July 12). This will be revised during the week as they approch London.

After making the 100-mile crossing from North Yorkshire to North Norfolk, Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr both posted blogs that tell the tale of the big crossing:

Getting to Bridlington was a great challenge within a challenge. We’ve had many of those. We try and balance out humour, humility and getting a true picture across to you so you can feel a little part if this. There’s the sessions where we’re completely wasted and just sleep for two hours before getting back on, and then the ones where the scenery gets you through. The general 24 hour routine,… looks like this: –

Row hard, eat, sleep, row hard, eat, sleep, row hard, sleep, anchor.. 2 in a cabin for a few hours, then it again..

The best session of the day seems to me to be between 2-4am, when first light breaks though, or 11-1 where last light leaves us for an hour or so… In Scotland, it stayed light all night!

A truly epic journey of character and emotions, physicality and decision making…

Now that’s priceless…

Jason x

Epic few days – An update from both of us now we have signal!

From Hartlepool we made a big push to Bridlington, an ambitious target time was set and it was hard work through the sweltering heat..

The coastguard was flying around looking for a kid that had been swept out to sea in a small boat, a kayaker was helping with information through the VHF and thankfully all worked out and the kid got… back safe! It’s a tricky place the coast!

We needed to anchor up for a few hours yesterday morning and shortly after getting comfortable in the cabin we heard a loud snorting next to us?! Neil (the seal) was literally a meter from us, we both squeezed our heads out the hatch at the back (stern) and watched him sweeping back and forth past the back of the boat, knocking the rudder! Really cool but we needed some sleep..

We set off again, made good time and arrived early to Bridlington! The plan was to regroup and see whether an open crossing to Norfolk would be feasible based on wind and tides.. All looking good we kept going ahead of schedule! A great couple days followed, blessed with fair weather!

We’ll try to post about our individual experiences on the oars but anyone that has been following the brick can see we’re anchored just off the Norfolk coast ready to work our way around to the mouth of the Thames at 6am!

It’s so difficult to tell still but our best guess at this stage is arriving at tower bridge on Friday, we’re doing our best! Spirits are high and we’re keen to make every bit of progress we can. The tides are strong around here so we need to play it smart and make the most of the windows.

We should have signal from now on so there’ll be a few more updates coming your way as we go..

See you soon

Josh & Jay x

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Name: JOSH TARR

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