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Plymouth Albion forward Jason Hart has decided to give up rugby for a season to concentrate on becoming a record-breaking rower.
Hart and three of his friends - Shaun Barker, Ian Lomas and Phil Langman - have decided to set off in January to attempt to become the first four-man rowing crew to cross one of the world's oceans.
The quartet will attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands port of La Gomera to Port St Charles in Barbados as part of the Ocean Rowing Society's 2004 challenge.
Hart, who made an attempt to cross the Atlantic with his cousin in 2001, was not due to undertake another major row until June 2005, when he was scheduled to take part in the Ocean Fours Rowing Challenge from Boston to Plymouth.
But he and his crew have now been offered this chance to write their names in the record books, and Hart said he could not turn it down - even if it means turning his back on rugby for a while.
"I'm taking a year out to do this," said the Devon captain, who has been at Albion since the summer of 2000. "I've decided to concentrate on this.
"These opportunities don't come around that often.
"Rugby is going to be taking a back seat for the next six months or so."
He added: "Part of the reason we are going in January is that we just felt we could not raise the money for the Ocean Fours Rowing Challenge. We got the opportunity to change to this one and become the first four-man crew to cross any ocean of the world.
"We've also got the chance to establish a new record for the route. The fastest crossing by any boat is 34 days and that could be a possibility for us if mother nature is kind to us.
"It was too good an opportunity not to take. It's quite exciting."
Hart and his crew are now desperately trying to raise the funds for their row, which will start on January 20 - midway through the rugby season.
"The other race would have cost ?96,000, but this one we reckon we can do it for ?30,000-?35,000," said Hart. "It's a significant saving without compromising safety.
"The financial side is easier. We've got more chance of raising ?30,000-?35,000 than ?96,000."
Hart knows he has not got long to sort everything out.
"The boat will be built in Exmouth, but we will need to place the order within the next two weeks if we are to get it for the Dartmouth Regatta.
"We have also been invited to the Southampton Boat Show, which is sponsored by the Daily Telegraph."
He added: "We are looking for sponsors in the area. I think we'll get a lot of coverage. We've got the Dartmouth Regatta and the Southampton Boat Show and hopefully we can become the first four to cross an ocean and maybe set a new record."
If anyone is interested in sponsoring Hart and his crew they can contact them through their website, which is
www.atlanticchallengedartmouth.info
or e-mail: atlanticchallenge.dartmouth@virgin.net
Meanwhile, Albion are hoping Brett Luxton will regain full fitness to cover for the loss of Hart.
Luxton missed the second half of last season because of a knee problem, which eventually needed an operation.
Albion's chairman of rugby Graham Dawe said: "Jason has always had a love for rowing, it is quite an attraction for him, but hopefully Brett Luxton is on the mend." |
