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09:00 - 06 December 2003
Four Westcountry men are aiming to set a new world record by becoming the
first to row an Ocean Fours boat across the Atlantic.
The men, who have 25 years combined rowing experience, plan to embark on
the 3,000-mile journey in the New Year.
Phil Langman, 29, Jason Hart, 30, and Yorkie Lomas, 36, from Dartmouth,
and Shaun Barker, 25 - also from Dartmouth but currently living in
Paignton - have been training since they decided to undertake the
challenge in 2001.
They will set off from La Gomera in the Canary Isles on January 20 and
will row to Barbados where each crew member's family will be waiting to
welcome them back to solid ground.
The 3,000-mile journey should take up to 50 days - an estimate based on
the times achieved by pair rowers and on the amount of supplies the boat
can hold.
Shaun Barker said: "This is the opportunity of a lifetime. This is the
chance to set a new world record and do something that's never been done
before. We were given the opportunity and knew that if we turned this down
we would be kicking ourselves for the rest of our lives.
"We have all known each other for years because we are from Dartmouth and
through our rowing so we have complete trust in each other, which is
absolutely essential."
He added: "We are confident. Confident in each other and in the boat - we
have done a lot of training and capsize trials and it has all gone well."
The carbon fibre boat was designed and built in Dartmouth by Phil Morrison
of Roswell and Morrison. The boat is an adapted version of that rowed by
Fedor Konyukhov. It is 24ft long and 6ft wide. The front cabin is extended
to accommodate one person and the rear cabin will have room for three
people. The ballast has been moved forward to counter the extra weight in
the rear and the tiller height can be adjusted depending on sea condition.
The boat will be rowed two-on, two-off for two hours at a time.
To add to the challenge, the four men are being studied by scientists at
Paignton Zoo to see how they get on. The crew will be monitoring their
interactions and scientists will compare their conflict management with
that of gorillas. The research into the behaviour of man and primates is
being carried out by PhD student Kirsten Pullen. She is currently studying
the gorillas at Paignton Zoo.
The challenge is being funded by sponsors but remains underfunded by
£10,000. The challenge also has a website dedicated to the record setting
journey, at
www.atlanticchallengedartmouth.info |
