THE Skandia Ocean Row Team with Monmouth-owner Rob Munslow, has finally set off from St John's, Newfoundland, to attempt to be the fastest rowing boat ever to cross the Atlantic.
If successful, the Skandia Ocean Row team will become the fastest ocean rowing team in history to complete an Atlantic crossing.
This would entitle them to two entries in the Guinness Book of Records: the fastest west-to-east transatlantic row (crewed), and the fastest transatlantic row overall (provided that they break all previous Atlantic rowing records).
According to weather expert Lee Bruce, the weather conditions are reported to be favourable for the first stage of the row, with a light north-easterly wind at a speed of 8-10 knots.
The four man team, led by Poole-based fire fighter Mark Stubbs, aims to row west-to-east from Newfoundland, passing through the Isles of Scilly, and continuing onto Falmouth, Cornwall, in under 35 days – 21 days faster than any other team to row the same route.
The first three days have probably been the most arduous part of the team's journey, due to strong currents around Newfoundland's Grand Banks.
Once clear of the mainland, there will also be potential hazards in the form of icebergs and other, much larger, vessels.