Scare for Fife submariner as boat capsizes in ocean

Matthew Harvey’s team of rowers close to finishing Atlantic challenge

A Fife navy man is nearing the finish line of a race across the Atlantic, having survived his boat being capsized by a giant wave.

Matthew Harvey was battered around in his team’s 28ft row boat as two of his crew mates were thrown overboard in the middle of the night.

Fellow Royal Navy submariners Callum Fraser and Dylan Woods scrambled back on board and, despite shock, continued their 3,000-mile voyage in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The foursome, on HMS Oardacious, expect to reach Antigua today or early tomorrow, having left the Canary Islands on December 12.

They were in sixth place yesterday morning out of 35 teams, the winners Fortitude IV having finished on Monday in 32 days. The team row in pairs in twohour shifts and sleep in tiny cabins.

Before their departure, Matthew, 33, of Kirkcaldy, told The Courier his biggest fear was losing a man overboard.

A post on HMS Oardacious’ Facebook page reported the team had suffered possibly their worst 24 hours during fierce winds and with problems with their vessel’s auto helm.

It said: “Then, in the middle of the night, in pitch black, an enormous wave hit and chucked Callum and Dylan out of the boat in their first full capsize.

“Matty and Hugo were ‘asleep’ (or at least trying to) and while they stayed dry, they were pretty battered.

“It was a scary few minutes, but they all had intensive training on what to do in exactly this scenario.

“They had everything strapped down and strapped on, so at no point were they at any real risk, just a big shock.

“Without doubt, their submariner training also gave them the best possible preparation.

“Their reaction was never to panic but to get back on deck and make sure everyone was safe and everything was accounted for, then to get back rowing.”

The team lost radio connection during the drama but were now said to be focused on getting back to their families in one piece.

The HMS Oardacious crew has already achieved their target of raising £100,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital.

Their progress can be followed on the Yellow Bricks app and donations made through their Facebook page HMS Oardacious.

Matthew, a former player for Kirkcaldy Rugby Club, is one of two Fife men taking part in the challenge, with Scots Guards officer John Ford, of Lochgelly, sailing with the Atlantic Guardsman team.