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 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

 

AFTER turning east at Cape Wrath, race leaders the Islanders strayed into a firing range used by the RAF for live bombing practice.

 Luckily, the sea state was extremely calm and their boat, the Black Oyster, was spotted by range safety wardens who sent out a boat to tow the Islanders out of the danger zone.

 Had Josh Taylor and his crew taken a tow they would have been disqualified under race rules.

 After politely declining the offer, the Islanders were rowing as hard as they could at 2knots against the tide to get out of the firing zone, under the watchful eye of Stornaway and Shetland coastguard stations.

 Meanwhile, 150 miles south, second place Savoir Faire were approx six miles from Oban, after managing to row all night, even against the tide.

Josh Tarr on Savoir Faire reported: “We managed to push on through the night with no need to anchor, saving valuable time and adding even more valuable miles. Our golden rule is, if its more than 1 knot, try to stick with it. It was a good call…”

 Tracker watchers may have noticed a blue boat appear on the Yellowbrick map. The blue boat is now near Wicklow in southern Ireland.

 This ‘ghost boat’ is tracking the current world for a pair rowing around Britain. The record of nearly 52 days was set in 2010 by two Army doctors, who actually rowed a course that was shorter by 150 miles, because they started and finished at Lymington in Hampshire

 Race Director Chris Usborne said: “Josh and his rowing partner Jason McKinlay are well ahead of the world record and, from now, on Guinness will only recognise unassisted round-Britain rowing records that start and finish at Tower Bridge.”

 

 

 

Day 16 in GBRow 2013 been one of heaven and hell.

 Heaven for Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in Savoir Faire. They left anchor on the Northern Ireland coast to make the 12mile crossing to the Mull of Kintyre.

 In perfect sunny weather with a light tail wind, they safely negotiated the crossing in around five hours then spent the rest of the day rowing in two-hour shifts up the west coast of Mull.

Tonight they are north of Campbeltown. Jason and Josh expect to anchor at midnight for about four hours while the tide is against them before setting off again. Tomorrow Savoir Faire will reach the Island of Mull and possibly the Skye Bridge by nightfall.     

 Just over 150 miles north, race leaders the Islanders were going through hell.

 Skipper Josh Taylor said: “Whoever said hell was hot and dry was wrong. It’s cold wet and about 60nm from Cape Wrath. But inch by inch we’re climbing out of it.”

 The crew of the Black Oyster anchored for several hours after failing to make headway against tide and wind. This afternoon they set off again, hoping the wind would live up to the forecast and switch to the south.

 Tomorrow they hope to reach the treacherous tides and the forbidding sandstone cliffs of Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point in this epic 2,000-mile race.

 

 

Latest blog from Josh Taylor on Black Oyster:

54 48.654 N 05 40.343W. Rowing against the strong tide and light headwind in the North Channel between Belfast and Larne, hugging the coast. Waiting for the tide to turn at 15.30. Keeping an eye on the weather to decide when to head for Scotland and leave Ireland behind.

WEDNESDAY June 12

In 3G and better weather for the time being! Yesterday resulted in a snapped oar and riding swell to shelter. The oar snapped as we were pulling in the sea anchor. No panic, nobody hurt, just took out the replacement and got back to the oars.

Today we are making the most up the N Irish coast before another stronger low pressure hits. All is well on board.

Celebrity Gavin’s back is better and he has spoken to nearly every Irish radio station. Stage 2 almost done.

Stage 3 – Scotland.

We would like to thank again and again the overwhelming support from family, friends, locals and organisations and as well we would like to apologise if any Mersea Island School kids receive and Yellowbrick homeworkJ You’ve all been such a help motivating us to drive us on.

 Following five hours at anchor this afternoon in waves the size of double-decker buses, the Islanders began rowing again at tea time.

Tonight the crew in the Black Oyster were at anchor again, seeking shelter in the lee of a bay near Minerstown, south of Belfast.

After a shift last night where real progress was made – often racing at more than five knots – it was disappointing for Josh Taylor and his crew of four to have to sit out the weather for hours on end.

The Islanders posted this photo of Gavin Sheehan on deck, with huge waves and white horses all around.

Their comment was: “Loving the Irish Sea with its double-decker bus-sized waves. So much that we decided to stay a little longer…frustrated doesn’t cover it! Sea anchor out again!”

 More than 100 miles south, Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in Savoir Faire are making more than two knots in the Irish Sea between Wexford and Aberystwyth.

 See the posting below from Jason, on life in the Irish Sea and looking ahead to a storm brewing on Thursday.