Western Daily Press (Saturday)
ATLANTIC CHALLENGE COMPLETED
THOUSANDS of people have sent a message in a bottle by dropping it in the ocean hoping it is found washed up on a faraway shore.
But four women from Bristol have gone one better by sending a powerful message by rowing in a boat made from recycled plastic bottles to a very faraway shore.
The Bristol Gulls arrived at English Harbour in the Caribbean island of Antigua on Thursday after rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
At one point they were even surrounded by a pod of orca (killer whales).
They have achieved the incredible feat by spreading the message about ocean pollution by fulfilling their aim to become the first team to complete the race in a boat made in an environmentally friendly way.
The team of friends – Lorna Carter, Sofia Deambrosi, Phoebe Wright and Sarah Hunt – who were brought together through their love of rowing and adventure, completed the crossing in a boat crafted from a range of sustainable materials – including the core which was manufactured from 100 per cent recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.
They were the ninth team home – second all female – in this year’s Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. They finished the 3,000-mile rowing race in 46 days, seven hours and 50 minutes.
While few of us would ever say no to a few days in sun-drenched Antigua at any time – nevermind in the depths of a British winter amid a pandemic, it is doubtful many of us have the fortitude to spend nearly seven weeks rowing there.
The Bristol Gulls, though, said it was the experience of a lifetime.
Sarah Hunt, from The Bristol Gulls, said: “It’s really overwhelming but a great feeling to be in Antigua and back on dry land.
“Whilst out in the ocean, one remarkable moment was during the pitch black of night when we noticed the blow of an orca whale before more and more appeared and were swimming alongside us.
“We’re never going to experience that again and it will stay with us all forever.”
The team capsized once when a rogue wave hit them and for stretches of the race it was nearly 40C.
Their trusty waterproof speaker was one of their main luxuries aboard providing musical solace and allowed them to listen to audiobooks by the likes of Michelle Obama.
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge took place under strict Covid19 protocols.
Rowers set off from La Gomera, Spain on December 12, spending at least 30 days at sea, rowing in twohour shift patterns and completing more than 1.5 million oar strokes.
The Bristol Gulls completed the race while raising funds for the RNLI at Portishead in North Somerset and for the Clean Up Bristol Harbour campaign.
Before they departed Lorna Carter said: “Every single day of the year, the volunteer lifeboat crew at Portishead are ready to answer the call to those in distress in the area.”
They have raised more than £20,000 thus far – to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-bristol-gulls
We’re never going to experience that again and it will stay with us all forever SARAH HUNT