Ex-Navy Commander in Atlantic World Record Attempt
Friday 7 January 2011 4:04 PM
David Hosking, embarked on an epic physical and mental endurance test to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic last night.
David (56), who teaches at Charterhouse School, is a former Royal Navy Commander, war hero and MBE, will skipper Team Hallin, a group of six, in the attempt.
David is confident Team Hallin will shave three days off the current world record of thirty-three days, seven hours and thirty minutes and land in the Bahamas less than a month after setting off from the Canary Islands, given the right weather.
David said, 'Leaving around 9pm during high water is crucial. We will be pulled away from Tenerife as the water level drops. It is a fractional advantage, but every gain is vital if we want to cross the Ocean in thirty days!'
The Team will 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 twelve 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.
'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,' 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.
'We all had a high level of fitness, but it has been a hellish 6 months of training. We will all suffer multiple injuries and lose up to two stones in weight. But we are doing it 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.
Team Hallin’s 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 bath!
Team Hallin expect to burn up to 10,000 calories a day while they row. Space and weight limitations mean they cannot even carry 6,000 calories worth of food. Consequently, each member of the Team expect to lose more than a pound of body weight each day.
You can follow Team Hallin's progress with their hourly updated tracker on their website, see link below.
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