GB Row 2020

‘The hardest thing we’ve undertaken’

by

Rowing Roy team talk about their extreme round Britain challenge

The ‘Rowing Roy’ 2 man team of Duncan Roy and Gus Barton, both experienced transatlantic rowers, were rowing round Britain at the same time as GB Row’s team Exe Endurow. Starting from Ramsgate in late June, they have now ended their row at Amble on the Northumberland coast. In an interview with the Guardian on 21 July they told how extreme the round Britain route is compared to open ocean rowing.

Duncan Roy recounted how the British coastal route is full of treacherous currents, fast changing weather, heavy shipping, and the ever present temptation of normal life carrying on just a few miles away on the coastline.

The two rowers originally planned to take part in a trans Pacific row, but when this was cancelled due to covid they switched their plans to undertake the round Britain route in an independent record breaking attempt. Their aim was to raise funds for charity while beating the current time set by Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in GB Row 2013 on the slightly longer Tower Bridge to Tower Bridge route. However with that target time approaching while they were still off the Northumberland coastline, and with a looming family wedding commitment for team member Gus Barton, it seems the two have sadly had to put ashore at Amble.

The Rowing Roy story  really shows that the round Britain route is a tougher challenge of endurance and navigational skills than a Transatlantic row.  If you think your are up for it, register your interest for GB Row 2021.

Read the full interview on the Guardian website: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/21/uk-rowers-attempt-to-sail-around-uk-in-record-time

GB Row in Wave Magazine

by

GB Row’s Round Great Britain and London to Land’s End races are featured in The Wave magazine’s January/February edition. The article tells the story of the original GB Row in 2005 and writes about the plans for this year’s races: Download a free copy

 

Headline news for Exe Endurow

by

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

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/