Plymouth University graduates prepare for epic 2,000 mile rowing race around Great Britain
A four-strong intrepid team of rowers are preparing to take on the enormous challenge of rowing around the United Kingdom in a race next month.
‘The Islanders’ will be the youngest team in history to attempt this feat and are also hoping to break the world record of just over 26 days to complete what has been described as ‘the toughest race Britain has to offer’.
Two of the four-strong team, James Plumley and Josh Taylor, are Plymouth University alumni, graduating in 2011, both with first class honours degrees.
During their time at Plymouth, they were active members of the University’s rowing club, representing the institution at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rowing contest in the top mens pair and four. Josh was also men's captain and in his final year concentrated on building a future for the rowing club, resulting in the largest intake of rowers, taking membership numbers to over 250.
Josh said: “I was awarded a first in BSc marine studies and my lecturer Chris Pollard taught me all the required navigation skills for our row. Without him, Dr Andrew Eccleston who is helping us with weather routing, and James’ lecturer Dr Ming Dai we’re certain we wouldn’t have the skills and experience we have today in order to take on this massive challenge.
“We all have experience at international and world championship levels in both rowing and sailing and have spent the last four years becoming accustomed to training for hours a day, six days a week, whilst studying at University.”
GB Row 2013 will see six crews of rowers battle the high seas in a non-stop 2,000 mile rowing race around the coast of Britain, in a quest for a £100,000 prize. They’ll battle changeable weather, fast turning tides and strong currents passing through some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and most remote waters of the UK.
Josh continued: “We will be rowing non-stop day and night on a two hour rota, with two people rowing and two resting, navigating or cooking. We’ll come up against severe fatigue, sleep deprivation, dehydration, horrendous blisters and all the problems that four men living in a 23-foot long boat encounter. More people have set foot on the moon than completed this race.”
The race will begin on Saturday 1st June at Tower Bridge, and will finish there approximately one month later. Rules state rowers must not have contact with the shore or support vessels so they must carry everything they may need.
Plymouth University is one of the sponsors of the team. Dr Andrew Eccleston, lecturer in nautical studies in the University’s School of Marine Science and Engineering, said: “Josh successfully took on the task of achieving his Bachelor of Science degree at Plymouth and I know he will bring the same energy, determination and skill to this new challenge. I wish the team all the best.”
The team is raising money for charity. For more information visit www.theislanderschallenge.co.uk
