Challenge Set For Rowing’s Richest Prize
£100,000 has been promised to the first crew who can row 2,000 miles unassisted around the British coast in less than 26 days, 21 hours and 14 minutes, starting and finishing at Tower Bridge.
That time is the world record set by a four-man Army crew in 2005 and the race is now on to beat their total. The richest purse in rowing – on flat water or ocean crossing – has been put up for the gruelling race, known as GB Row 2013, which sets off from Tower Bridge in London on June 1 next year.
As many as ten teams of rowers are expected to compete and organisers are still looking for more crews to take part in the race to beat the existing record.
Sir Richard Branson, who sponsored the race in 2010, said: ‘This is one of the most extreme and exciting challenges I have ever come across. Probably the hardest rowing race in the world.’
Race Director Chris Usborne said: ‘Amazingly for a seafaring nation, more people have walked on the moon than have successfully rowed around the British coastline.
‘The crews will have to brave treacherous tides, the world’s busiest shipping lanes and unpredictable weather.’
Just ten people have ever rowed non-stop and unassisted around the coast of mainland Britain and only eight of them have completed the full 2010-mile course, which starts and finishes at Tower Bridge. In contrast 12 men have stood on the surface of the moon.
