| Antigua. Atlantic Rowing Race: All Relatives wins the race; champagne for the boys from Beer |
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| Sunday, 08 January 2006 | |
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Teresa Page: Today (Sunday 08 January 2006), four men from Devon triumphantly crossed the finish line of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 in first place, a race organised by Devonshire based nautical events company, Woodvale Events Ltd. Thirty nine days previously, 26 teams from all around the world set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to embark on a unique adventure, to row 2,550 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Antigua in the West Indies. Competing on equal terms in purposely designed and built ocean rowing boats within their respective class, the teams have been racing against each other to be the first to cross the finish line, in the fastest possible time. Competing in the Fours class of the Race, alongside three other teams, is aptly named Boat No. 24 – All Relatives, crewed by four relations from Beer in Devon; brothers, Justin Adkin and Robert Adkin and cousins Martin Adkin and James Green. With an impressive lead of over 800 miles, All Relatives crossed the finish line, due south of Cape Shirley, Antigua today at 1537.47 hours GMT to win this most extreme of endurance events in a total crossing time of 39 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 47 seconds. Crew Member, Justin Adkin commented: “We are all so totally overwhelmed with the whole experience and seeing so many of our family and friends who have travelled out to see us arrive today is an amazing feeling. We are so pleased to have done this well in the race but the last week has been really difficult with the adverse weather conditions and our thoughts now go out to the remaining 25 teams still at sea. “Stepping off the boat was just the strangest feeling, like being drunk without the alcohol. It seems that we now feel more comfortable on the boat than we do on dry land.” Having battled against three low pressure systems, two tropical storms and the tail end of a hurricane, the weather conditions during this, the fourth edition of the Atlantic Rowing Race event have been less than favourable. Although All Relative has missed out on the Fours route record by only three days, they have set a new race record. Woodvale Events Ltd Managing Director, Simon Chalk comments: “The Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 has been the most competitive race so far. However, as reserve RNLI crewmen and boat builders, the seamanship skills held by the four crew members onboard All Relative has clearly shone through. Their dedication, teamwork and desire to win, has proved beyond all doubt to be the winning combination and as a fellow ocean rower, I am over the moon to be able to congratulate these amazing sportsmen on their arrival in to Antigua.” Accompanying All Relative into Antigua was Race support vessel, Sula and back on land, waiting eagerly for the first glimpse of this tiny 24 ft long ocean rowing boat were the many proud family members and friends. Two family members not content with following their son’s progress over the internet from the comfort of their homes were Justin and Robert’s dad Chris Adkin and James’s dad Ali Green. Chris and Ali could not resist the opportunity to jump on a yacht that departed La Gomera a week after race start bound for Antigua and joined the flotilla of welcome boats lining the last few miles of the voyage. On stepping of their boat for the first time in 39 days, the crew of All Relative were met by a huge crowd of well wishers and locals curious to see this most unusual of boat arrivals. A steel band could be heard in the background and a marquee had been set up with a bar to create a typical Caribbean party atmosphere. Tonight will be a double celebration for the crew of All Relative as Martin Adkin, who at the tender age of 19 is the youngest person ever to row the Atlantic Ocean, turned 20 yesterday. Current second placed boat, Boat No. 6 – Atlantic 4 now has an estimated time of arrival in to Antigua of 24 January 2006. www.atlanticrowingrace.com |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 January 2006 ) |
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