Royal Navy Submariners Win World’s Toughest Rowing Race

A team comprising Royal Navy submariners triumphed in the world’s toughest rowing competition, covering 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in 35 days, four hours, and 30 minutes.

The five servicemen departed the Canary Islands on December 13 and arrived in English Harbour, Antigua, shortly before 1 pm on Wednesday in a boat named Captain Jim. The team, dubbed HMS Oardacious as a whole, finished ahead of 36 other teams, setting a record for the quickest finish by a military crew.

Commander Matt Main, a Sussex native and Captain Jim’s captain described the race as tough. The other member was Petty Officer Ian Allen, 39. He is a nuclear reactor operator from Sevenoaks, Kent, and lives in Southampton. The others included Marine Engineer Officer Commander Dan Seager, 38, a Chester native now living in Bristol, and Medical Services Officer Lieutenant Rob Clarke, 37, from Fareham in Hampshire, living in Glasgow.

A Royal Navy official said that Captain Jim sailed from La Gomera in the Canaries on December 13 and was named in memory of one of their former coworker. The submariners, since then, have rowed for two and a half hours in shifts, pausing for 90 minutes in the little cabins at either end of the boat for rest.

They burn approximately 5,000 calories daily, suffering sea sickness, blisters, or salt sores. Captain Jim’s team has been able to raise nearly £70,000 for the Royal Navy as well as for the Royal Marines Charity.

Reference: standard.co.uk

Royal Navy Submariners Win World’s Toughest Rowing Race appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News