Dan's Papers - June 6, 2008 - Brits Follow Shelter Island Crew in Transatlantic Row

Tell people you want to row across the Atlantic Ocean, and some may think you're insane while others may admire your adventurous spirit. Despite the opinions on transatlantic rowing races, the fact is they do happen. In fact, a crew on Shelter Island actual accomplished what many consider impossible.

Lead by Roy Finlay, the American crew rowed the Orca from the Canary Islands out of Puerto Mogan, all the way to Port St. Charles, Barbados, in a race against the La Mondiale, a French boat that held the fastest trans-Atlantic title in the world. La Mondiale finished the race in just 33 days. Because of bad weather, it took Orca 36 days to complete the trip, but the Shelter Island-based team claimed the fame of rowing the first multi-hull boat across the Atlantic.

Rowing across the Atlantic is no longer limited to the adventurous few. In fact, by the time you're reading this you may be able to see a British crew in the distance off the Montauk Lighthouse, en route in a transatlantic rowing adventure. The Scilly Boys, as they like to be called, include rowers Chris Jenkins, Tim Garratt, Wayne Davey and Joby Newton. They set oar on June 2 from the Hudson River, right by the Statue of Liberty, heading straight for the Isles of Scilly off the southwestern tip of Great Britain. The length of the row is 3,262 miles, and is expected to take 50 days to complete.

The row will involve some very serious risks. Rowing past the Grand Bands, the team will be exposed to freezing temperatures, ice flows and fog. Relying on the well-known mid-Atlantic trade winds, the group will use the 100-year-old route to make the journey.

The Scilly Boys' boat is unlike the multi-hulled Orca. It's a 29-foot long GRP composite Woodvale fours boat, weighing in at about two tons. The oarsmen are set on completing the journey without any human contact or assistance. They do have a GPS set on the boat that will allow media outlets and rowing fans to track them via a website. They've also set out with 1,500 freeze dried meals to supply up to 10,000 calories a day. For water, the boat is equipped with hand pumped desalinators to create enough drinking water for the team, as well as solar panels to power electrical systems such as lighting and GPS systems. No fuel power will be used on the boat.

The rowers on board range in age from 19 to 43 years old. Leader Chris Jenkins is the oldest. He was born in St. Mary's England and fell in love with rowing at school. He runs a boatyard and has certifications in navigation and marine engineering - both key to the race. Tim Garratt, 27, grew up in Devon, England and is an active athlete who studies exercise science. He has also been sponsored by the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity. Wayne Davey, 30 years old from Cornishman, England, plays professional rugby and is also a big fan of Guinness stout. The youngest of the group is Joby Newton, who was born on Scilly and studies marine engineering and design at Falmouth Marine School. Remember, right now, as you read this, these four are rowing merrily off the coast of Long Island - with no engine and no sails.

Before their departure from New York City, Shelter Island's Roy Finlay drove into Manhattan and met up with the Scilly crew to discuss and provide advice on their journey. Having already rowed across the ocean, Finlay could provide valuable advice on topics like how to pack. He also gave them some of his own rowing equipment to the four.

Obviously passionate about transatlantic rowing, Finlay watched as the four-man team from England shoved off and began their own across the Atlantic.