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Rower
aims for ocean record |
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Saturday, 4 January, 2003, 10:16 GMT |
A Devon rower has unveiled
the boat he hopes will take him across the Indian Ocean in a
record-breaking time.
Simon Chalk, 30, from Newton Abbot first attempted the challenge last
May.
But he had to be rescued off the west coast of Australia when the boat
capsized.
Now he has a new boat, and a new rowing partner, Robert Munslow, 24,
from Monmouth, Wales.
Property developer Mr Chalk, said: "It's the first double-handed row
across the Indian Ocean. It has only been rowed single-handed, 30
years ago. |
Simon Chalk and Rob Munslow test the
new boat |
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"So it's a true record and we
are also after the time record that was set then."
The pair will row more than 3,000 miles from Kalbarri in western Australia
to the Reunion Islands off the coast of Madagascar.
And they will be hoping that the new boat will be able to correct itself
if capsized. |
| Spurred
on |
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Rob Munslow: Atlantic attempt failed
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Mr Chalk's attempt last
May ended after just three days when the boat was flipped over by a
freak wave more than 60 miles off the west Australian coast.
He and his partner Bill Greaves, 41, clung to the hull for 15 hours
before being rescued.
But rather than deter him, that experience has spurred him on try
again.
Mr Chalk said: "It was a freak accident and if we had failed in any
other way, I think we would have been daunted about going back."
Mr Munslow, whose attempt to row across the Atlantic was scuppered by
a broken rudder last July, said: "Simon and I get on really well.
"It's been a hardship at times, but you cannot beat the beauty of
being out there and just rowing a boat.
"I just want to row into a port and know that I have crossed an ocean
on a rowing boat."
If the weather conditions are right, the pair hope to set off in April
or early May. |
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