Jeff’s looking to row himself into the record books
A MAN is set to break five Guinness World Records on an Arctic expedition – all because of a conversation while watching the rugby.
Jeff Willis, 56, is part of an international eight-man team that will reach the highest latitude achieved by a rowing crew.
Over 35 days at sea in freezing the conditions the group will cross Arctic waters with the help of Olympic legend Steve Redgrave and two-time British medallist Alex Gregory.
Jeff, who was born in Splott, Cardiff, said: “For months I have been training, either on the rowing machine, at the gym or endurance training.
“It’s been intense but hopefully it will soon pay off.”
The father-of-three was first inspired to row two years ago after talking to a friend who works as an explorer.
He said: “I was watching a rugby match at home with my friend who is an explorer and he turned to me at half time and said: ‘Jeff do you fancy rowing the Atlantic?’
“As soon as he said those words I fell in love with the idea.”
For the former rugby player and coach the expedition will be his biggest challenge to date after his original trip across the Atlantic was cancelled at the last minute.
Beating younger men half his age, Jeff, a former pupil of Whitchurch High School, was selected for the trip due to his fitness and stamina as an ocean swimmer and athlete.
To achieve his goal, he will join the world’s fastest Olympic rower Alex Gregory and the world’s fastest open ocean rower Fiann Paul from Iceland.
Jeff said: “It feels very humbling and honourable.
“I have mixed emotions but predominantly my emotion is excitement.
“I’m ready for the challenge, I think I’ve earned the right to it with all my training.”
To reach their goal the men will have to row for 12 hours a day each at temperatures as low as minus two, sharing a 28ft boat between eight people.
The expedition will start in Norway, before heading north to their final destination at Iceland’s northernmost town Siglufjörður.
As well as conducting research into the changes the crew will go through in extreme environments, the expedition is also fundraising to build a school in the Himalayas.
By completing their journey, Jeff will receive five Guinness World Records, including the fastest row in the Arctic and the first row above the Arctic Circle.
The team will also carry the explorers flag, becoming the 202nd group in history to receive the honour previously given to astronauts on Apollo missions.
Jeff said sons Morgan, Brynmor and Owan were proud but “concerned” for their father’s welfare.
He said: “They also have a mixture of emotions, they’re very proud of me but are concerned that I’ll come back home and clean the house for them.”
The team’s progress can be monitored on their social media channels and website polarrow.com.