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A Suffolk
oarsman has today finally completed an arduous charity
rowing challenge which saw him claim the world record for
the slowest west-to-east crossing of the Atlantic.
Appalling weather conditions meant dedicated fundraiser
Oliver Hicks, 23, took a staggering 124-days to cross the
ocean by rowing boat - double the length of the current
record.
The Thorpeness rower completed the Atlantic challenge
earlier this week when he passed the Bishop's Rock
lighthouse off the Isles of Scilly on Wednesday making him
the youngest person to row an ocean alone.
However, he carried on with his Virgin North Atlantic voyage
in a final push to mainland Britain and was greeted in
Falmouth, Cornwall, by his sponsor Richard Branson.
He said: "It was just one of those things. If we had had
better weather, we would have been quicker.
"I have no regrets at all about being out there so long, but
I am very pleased to be home now. The last weeks have been
very tough as it got colder and wetter and darker and
rougher."
Mr Hicks has also become the first Briton to row solo from
the United States to England.
In 2003 Frenchman Maud Fontenay took 117 days to row the
Atlantic from Canada to France - the slowest completed west
east crossing until now.
Mr Hicks has used the voyage to raise money for Hope and
Homes for Children which helps children worldwide who have
nowhere to live due to war or disaster.
For more information about the work of the Salisbury-based
charity or to make a donation visit www.hopeandhomes.org |
