Former Navy Commander Set to Break Atlantic World Record
Friday 4 February 2011 2:59 PM
Team Hallin, an elite British rowing group of six, have powered into the last week of their epic physical and mental endurance test to break the Trans-Atlantic World Record.
Now, after over 650 gruelling hours of continuous rowing, Team Hallin has the end of their monumental, month long challenge in sight. If the weather holds, they hope to cross the finish line in Barbados by Monday, shaving an entire day off the current World Record of 33 days, 7 hours, 30 minutes. It will be an extraordinary, superhuman achievement.
The greatest problems, after nearly a month on the waves, are the extreme fatigue from exertion and lack of sleep and the ceaseless agony of sitting on the same, unforgiving rowing seat. Nothing but arrival in Barbados will stop the pain.
Since their departure from Tenerife Team Hallin have seen pods of dolphins, shooting stars, satellites, the space station, 30 foot waves, been hit by flying fish (in the face), nearly been hit by a 20,000 ton cargo ship, had legs burnt by emergency flares, slept as little as 3 hours a day, lost 30 pounds each, turned their hands to raw, bleeding flesh, ruined their bodies, created agonising sores on their bottoms, tried to sleep in the tiny 40oC cabin, yet are still on track to beat the World Record!
David Hosking (MBE), 56, of Wimbledon, a former Royal Navy Commander and war hero, is Team Hallin s skipper and still confident they can beat the World Record.
The physical and mental strain on Team Hallin s six athletes is inconceivable. The Team row in a watch system, with three people rowing at all times: two hours on, two hours off, two hours on, two hours off, all the way to Barbados.
When 'off watch' they will boil desalinated sea-water to rehydrate their food, carry out essential repairs to boat and body and, if there is time, try to sleep before starting the endless four hour cycle again.
Sore muscles from 12 hours hard rowing a day are the least of the athlete’s worries. Fatigue, sores, blisters, mental strain and illness will all take their toll, but with no time to rest, or heal, they will have to endure their problems until they cross the Atlantic.
Paddy Thomas, Team Medic, said, 'Prevention is better than cure. The body is amazing, but there is no way to stop the injuries. They are going to happen; we have to deal with them when they do. We must never stop rowing.'
'Traditionally a lot of people row half naked to air off their sore bottoms, although Naomi Hoogesteger,' the only female member of the crew, 'doesn't seem to think much of this idea!'
There are other very real dangers. The chances of a hurricane are low at 2%, but a capsize of their sleek boat is possible and difficult to predict as it can be caused by anything from the sea to curious whales.
Justin Johanneson, whose past sporting achievements include Ironman, ultra-marathons and high altitude climbing said the rowing challenge is beyond anything he has done. I was told the first week would be the worst, and it was.
Jack Stonehouse, Team Junior at 21, said, Youth will be little advantage in the immense struggle ahead.
After some members of Team Hallin endured horrendous seasickness in the first week, Chris Covey said, If I go near a boat again, just shoot me, but we are doing this to break a world record and to raise money for a very deserving cause.
Team Hallin aims to raise 60,000 for Combat Stress, the UK s leading military charity specialising in the care of UK service veterans’ mental health.
The Team Hallin boat, Hallin Marine, is a revolutionary trimaran, only the second ever built. The shape means it is light, stable and very fast through the water. Unfortunately its very nature makes it small, therefore supplies are very limited and the sleeping area for two people is not much bigger than a bathtub!
You can follow Team Hallin's progress with their hourly updated tracker on their website, see link below.
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