Dr Pat and crew spent Christmas rowing the Atlantic
WHILE the nation tucked into Christmas Day dinner and all its trimmings, spare a thought for Castletownroche doctor Pat O’Connor who, with three other rowers, are battling the elements as they take on a 3,000 nautical miles race dubbed the toughest in the world.
Dr O’Connor is joined by Dr Sean Underwood of Blarney and Eoin O’Farrell, a podiatrist from Ballinlough. Also with them is Dublin tech entrepreneur Thomas Browne.
The team, dubbed ‘ the Relentless Rowers’, aim to break the current world record by completing the Talisker Whiskey Challenge which has seen them leave the shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 12 as they attempt to row across the Atlantic to the Caribbean Island of Antigua in under 35 days.
They are doing this in their attempt to raise over €20,000 for the children’s hospital unit at CUH along with raising funds for Pieta House.
On Friday, December 22 contact was made by Dr Underwood who said they are getting on well but they have been facing high waves and tough conditions. Unfortunately, the dehydrated food they are eating tastes pretty horrific.
But they are making good progress and at that time had crossed nearly 25% of the total distance.
The Corkman previously interviewed Dr O’Connor of Doonawanly and when asked just where did the idea to do such a challenge stem from, he said with a smile that three and a half years ago, while in the middle of doing medical exams, his friend Sean Underwood told him he had read a book when he was about 10 years old about rowing the Atlantic and he desperately wanted to do it – but also wanted Pat to join him.
There was one small problem. Pat couldn’t row and he couldn’t swim. But Sean was persistent and Pat said he felt that by 2017 the plan would have disappeared.
But as the years ticked onwards, Sean’s plans had not waned one inch. And so Pat had to learn how to row and to swim.
Pat, is the son of Anne and the late Kevin and there are seven in the family.
When Pat isn’t working he can be found on the family farm which he loves. He has a huge amount of accolades under his belt and has also represented Ireland at World Kick-boxing as well as completing the Malin to Mizen Head challenge in under 24 hours.
The farming community in North Cork also know him from TG4 Feirm Factor, where he was crowned Ireland’s greatest farmer.
The crew has to consume 5,000 calories per day and each rower will lose between 12-18kg. With a 28 foot boat and four hardy bucks on board, it means that every inch of the Saoirse will be utilised.
In short, what the task will consist of is eight oars, four roars and one bucket for a toilet along with their supplies, thoughts, sleep deprivation, salt sores, storms, hunger and physical exertion and mixed in with all of this is the challenge of their lives.
Up to 30 teams from around the world take part in this gruelling competition but it will ultimately be the grit to reach Antigua which will be foremost in this crews mind.
To follow the crew or to donate log on to www.relentless.ie