Richard Wood. Tale of an OceanRower.

INTRODUCTION	© by Richard Wood
Richard I have just caught up with your website with some help from Jack. The best stories are often those where the action does not come easily, where their are considerable trials, physical, mental and emotional, as well as competition and the big challenge of crossing the Atlantic. You have such a tale and it was an absorbing and gripping read for us all one evening. Much more interesting than straight forward success. Your sense of commitment and determination are very tangible and together with Usha's impressive support I would call it a brilliant effort - so well done - I'm inspired! I feel that there is a bit of the ghost of Shackleton here but perhaps I am going on already too much! Kind regards John
Much water has passed beneath the proverbial bridge since 1972 when John and I landed in Bahrain to join the MS Manora a general cargo ship of the P&O Line. We were 16 years old and part of a group of 8 deck cadets looking forward to a life at sea with the hope of commanding our own vessels over distant horizons someday in the future. After nearly a year on the Australia-Persian Gulf run and many adventures, we flew back to the UK from Muscat to begin the first part of our shore based training in Plymouth. Both John and I subsequently left the merchant navy and lost contact. Nearly 30 years later John got in touch again just prior to my trans-Atlantic rowing challenge. I received his note on my return and it reflects the overwhelming and somewhat humbling support from so many people, that for some reason found our attempt a great inspiration. There is a great British tradition of love for the under dog, for those who strive to meet their chosen challenge, whatever form it may take, and give it their best shot even if they fail to achieve the ultimate goal. Ernest Shackleton is one of my all time heroes and his adventure is one of the best known examples of making history whilst completely failing to achieve what he set out to do. Despite John's allusion to the great explorer, in no way would I presume to come anywhere close to his epic journey. I do however recognise that he dared to step out into the unknown, had faith in his ability to succeed and when he failed to achieve his ambition remained undaunted turning his attention to the safety of his fellow explorers and the new challenge that faced him. It is this kind of commitment, determination and bravery tempered with realism and compassion that strikes a cord in people's hearts. In 1998 I embarked on a journey that ultimately failed to achieve what I set out to do. The following recounts the story of that journey, the milestones I passed, the people I met and the unexpected impact it made on so many lives. I still feel a great sense of unfinished business and I suspect this tale represents part of a longer journey that may end in reaching the objective that so cruelly eluded me. Only time will tell but for the present, here is the story of my entry in the 2001 Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge.
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