Devon and Somerset-based crew of four are gearing up to face a 550 nautical mile world record breaking row across the Arctic Ocean in July. Departing from Tromso, Norway, the Ocean Revival Arctic Rowing team will row for 10-15 days to reach Svalbard in the high North.
The team will be led by Plymouth-based Royal Marine, Matt Mason, Skipper of the first team to row from New York to London and include Plymouth-based Royal Marine Matt Ingles, and Somerset-based businessmen Mark Sealey and Colin Hiscock. With no support vessels, the crew will be entirely self-sufficient.
The four-man crew hope to break three world records and raise funds for young, homeless people in Exeter through the work of YMCA Exeter.
“The hardest part will be the cold temperatures and the consecutive two-hours rowing, two-hours sleeping with no change,” explains Mark. “It will be brutal but it’s a way of giving back.”
The team will be on standby in Tromso for a five-day weather window from 1st July that will create the best conditions for speed and safety.
The world-class ocean rowing boat includes a life raft, immersion suits, AIS, lifejackets, danbuoys, locator beacons and is designed to withstand adverse weather having been tested in the Indian, North and Mid Atlantic Oceans.
The four-person crew have undergone substantial training and are due to complete their training around the south coast in June.
Track their journey across the Arctic here: YB Tracking Race Viewer – Arctic Ocean Row
Crew members will be available for interviews, please get in touch if you would like to arrange this.
