Oliver Hicks

T H E A D V E R T I S E R

Friday, June 24, 2005

B r a n s o n p r a i s e s y o u n g S u f f o l k r o w e r

SIR Richard Branson has spoken of his admiration for а young Suffolk adventurer trying to row solo across the Atlantic.
The multi-millionaire adventurer likened the courageous efforts of Thorpeness oarsman Oliver Hicks to those of Scott of the Antarctic as the 23-year-old continued his battle against adverse weather conditions.

He spoke admiringly this week of the challenges tackled by Mr Hicks, а friend since the early teens of his daughter, Holly, who is of the same age.

"He's been round my house a lot," he said. "I could see he had the guts and determination to do this."

The 53-year-old entrepreneur, who has become а household name through his business empire, Virgin, is sponsoring Mr Hicks on his 3,000 mile adventure, and has been following his progress as he crosses from New Jersey in the US to Falmouth in Cornwall.

"I think it can't be overstated what he's trying to achieve. He's а young man doing something completely on his own," he said.
"I like the company of people and it's good, when times are down, to have somebody else to be there.

"For him to be going through all these crises, horrendous weather and so on - what he's doing is as remarkable, I think, as Scott going to the Antarctic 100 years ago."

'His challenge took "just as much guts and determination", he said, "He's up there with the absolute greats."

Sir Richard is no stranger to extreme conditions, having taken part in а host of daredevil adventures over the years, including an Atlantic crossing in Virgin Atlantic Challenger 11, and a doomed attempt to circumnavigate the globe in а hotair balloon. `
He pointed out about half of those who had tried to row the Atlantic had not come back.

"I have not encouraged him. There's the horrible possibility of him not coming home and he's too young to be encouraged to take а risk like that," he said.

"However, he was old enough to decide whether to take it on."

Mr Hicks has faced "an incredibly lonely existence" and bad luck with adverse weather conditions.

Before setting off, the young oarsman said he wanted to cross the Atlantic as а "warm-up" for his ultimate challenge - which was to become the first man to row around the world.

Mr Hicks, who is now more than three weeks into his voyage, has so far covered 710 miles and lies south of Halifax in Nova Scotia.

Не faces а race against time to make up for lost rowing time caused after he was forced to drop anchor to prevent being blown back into bad weather.

He hopes to become the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic, beating the current 62-day record.