A few years ago Brenda and I were in Antigua and learned about a rowing race across the Atlantic, 3,000 miles, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.\u00a0 That’s twice as far as the Salty Dawg Rally run from Hampton VA to Antigua and to make matters worse, they have to row the entire way in an open boat.<\/p>\n
The idea of purposely heading out into the ocean in an open boat for a month or more sounds nuts.\u00a0 For me, the 9-12 day run from VA to Antigua in the relative comfort of Pandora is not all that appealing but I do it because I want to spend a winter in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
The crews that make their run do it for the experience, not to enjoy time here as I expect that after being in Antigua for a short time, they fly home and back to work.<\/p>\n
For me, the run to Antigua is a big deal and not all that comfortable.\u00a0 However, rowing across the Atlantic? Now that is an entire different kettle of fish.<\/p>\n
It seems that several dozen boats do this every year and some crews do it more than once, perhaps as many as ten times for some, I am told.\u00a0 And every crew has a specific goal beyond successfully completing the trip, a charity or something to raise money for.<\/p>\n
Here’s one of the boats that made the trip.\u00a0 All of them are very similar in design with one, two three or four crew.\u00a0 This one, had a crew of three.![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_4008.jpg\")
Their goal is clearly stated on the aft portion of the hull. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_4007.jpg\")
When I think about what being at sea for a month in an open boat doing nothing but sleeping and rowing, day after day, I guess that they were truly living their goal.\u00a0 \u00a0Misery!\u00a0 Or should I say, “misery loves company” and they lived that, all together for a month.<\/p>\n
And they can’t say that they did it for the cuisine.\u00a0 \u00a0This is a lovely sample of food that they enjoyed on passage.\u00a0 ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_4004.jpg\")
I also saw bags of vacuum packed stuff that looked like oatmeal.\u00a0 \u00a0Every item brought aboard has to be accounted for at the end of the trip and a race official audits the items as they are removed to ensure that every single items that they took aboard is accounted for and noting was tossed over the side. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_4002.jpg\")
The race officials are very serious about all this and monitor the boats for any perceived infraction.\u00a0 \u00a0I\u00a0 had heard about a women’s team a few years ago that thought it would be fun to hold up a sheet as a sail and make a video of what they must have thought was a moment of hilarity.<\/p>\n
The committee saw the clip and disqualified them on the spot.\u00a0 I’ll bet that they had fun explaining this to their supporters.<\/p>\n
Like the boats in the Salty Dawg Rally, each boat in the race has a tracker on board so that folks on shore can follow along.\u00a0 \u00a0This is a screen shot of the fleet.\u00a0 When asked about a memorable moment on the trip, one shared the experience of looking up at the stars on a clear night.\u00a0 Another, recounted when the boat was rolled completely over, tossing all of them overboard.\u00a0 \u00a0Yes, that sounds memorable if not in a good way.\u00a0 I’ll take the Milky Way above being tossed into the drink.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/rowing.jpg\")
A few days ago I decided to go over to English Harbor to welcome one of the boats that was arriving.\u00a0 There were hundreds on hand to welcome the crew including perhaps 20 or so that were wearing matching shirts.\u00a0 It was fun to see the boat as they entered the harbor, serenaded by the horns of the big yachts and accompanied by a number of dinks that were happy to greet them too.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3966.jpg\")
These guys, all members of the Scots Guard or military, were clearly pretty excited to be nearing land.\u00a0 I was told that one of them played the bagpipe but I didn’t see or hear that.\u00a0 ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3975.jpg\")
Ashore was all done up with banners and such. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3957.jpg\")
While I was standing around waiting for the boat to appear, I heard someone call my name.\u00a0 It was Ann-Marie Martin leaning out of her office window, obviously also excited about the arrival of the boat.\u00a0 She’s the Park’s Commissioner who I have come to know over the years of bringing the SDSA fleet to Antigua.\u00a0 ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3962.jpg\")
As each of the crew stepped ashore, after more than a month at sea, emotions ran high.\u00a0 It was moving to see them greeted by family after so long apart.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3983.jpg\")
There was plenty of enthusiasm for the UK and Scotland in evidence. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3984.jpg\")
Next on the agenda was a sit down interview and when that was over, a meal of cheeseburgers and beer.\u00a0 I’ll bet that it was a welcome change from oatmeal and freeze dried food.\u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_3994.jpg\")
Their accomplishment was really something, rowing across the Atlantic but it didn’t take long for them to announce that “the Atlantic Guardsman were formally retiring from ocean rowing”.\u00a0 That makes sense to me.\u00a0 For them, been there, done that.\u00a0 If you’re curious about this team and want to learn more, follow this link.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/IMG_4011.jpg\")
Another beautiful day in paradise.\u00a0 \u00a0Nope, no rowing in my future.\u00a0 Well, at least unless my dink motor fails.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"