FOUR intrepid rowers from South Warwickshire are in training to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
The mixed crew, named The Brightsides, is made up of Rod Adlington, aged 56, Imogen Yeoman, 48, Patrick Lamb, 45, and Duncan Nealon, 44, who will row from Tenerife to Barbados, non-stop in January 2024.
With preparations and training well underway, the crew is hoping to challenge the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing by a mixed crew, which currently stands at 40 days, 23 hours, and 57 minutes.
Whilst the majority of the team are new to ocean rowing, The Brightsides possess a unique and eclectic skillset that skipper, Rod feels stands them in good stead ahead of their challenge.
He said: “I’ve spent an awful lot of time on the ocean and spent two years working as a yacht skipper for Sunsail, so am experienced at working with the seas. Immy learned to row in Salcombe at a young age and went on to compete in the World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly. She is also a two times successful Ironman competitor.
“Pat is an extremely powerful rower, and recently completed a 100km time trial on a Concept2 rowing machine. Duncan, meanwhile, is a veteran of endurance events, having run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons, as well as the legendary Marathon Des Sables, through the Sahara Desert.
“The team collective is central to everything we are trying to achieve, and we really feel that together we have a very strong team to take on the Atlantic Ocean.”
The challenge will see the crew row non-stop, 24 hours a day, with a two-hours-on, two-hours-off shift pattern, for approximately six weeks. They will live off freeze-dried rations, and sea-water purified via a desalinating machine. The four will sleep in tiny cabins at each end of their specialist Rannoch R45 ocean rowing boat, called Mrs Nelson.
Each crew member has their own individual motivations, however a strong sense of ‘seizing the moment’ unites the crew.
Duncan said: “I think all four of us have had experiences in our lives that have impressed upon us the importance of having the courage to pursue our dreams. Many people have asked us ‘why?’ and I think we all gave the same answer of ‘why not?’
“And similarly, if not now, then when? And if not us, then who? This is where our strapline of ‘Dream With Your Eyes Wide Open’ came from.”
Crew training includes hours spent in the gym and on rowing machines, monthly weekends on the sea in Devon, as well as essential educational courses such as Survival At Sea, and medical training.
The Brightsides are rowing to raise money for four different charities – Cancer Research, Get-A-Head, Meningitis Now and The RNLI.
Find out more about The Brightsides Atlantic challenge at www.thebrightsidesrow.com
