by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday
PERTHSHIRE adventurer Mark Beaumont, who is currently rowing the Atlantic, yesterday described reaching a “massive milestone” in his latest world record attempt.
The 29-year-old, who hails from Bridge of Cally, and his fellow five crew members have crossed the mid-way point between Tarfaya in Morocco and Port St Charles, Barbados.
The Atlantic Odyssey team, who set off at 1pm on January 2, are bidding to cover an epic 3000 miles, from east to west, in the quickest-ever time.
The world record currently stands at 33 days, 21 hours and 46 minutes.
Speaking from the 11-metre ‘Sara G’ boat, Mark said yesterday: “Whilst some hours drag so that time feels incredibly slowed down, the weeks have flown.
“Reaching half way across the Atlantic Ocean is a massive milestone for the expedition and none of the crew can quite believe it has passed so fast – but it hasn’t, if you see what I mean!
“We have been rowing roughly 2400 strokes per two hour session rowing, for six sessions a day for 16 days and have covered more than 1375 nautical miles.
“None of us have slept for more than 90 minutes at a time since New Year’s Day.
“We are all often fighting heavy eyelids and it takes a dose of caffeine tablets to see us through most nights rowing.”
The gruelling schedule, which requires the crew to row for two hours at a time, followed by two hours rest, is expected to see each member to arrive in Barbados around three stones lighter.
Revealing the team are trailing the record pace by a mere five miles, he added: “The great news is that our speed has been improving as we have picked up healthier trade winds and are now heading almost due west towards Barbados.
“Nobody can believe that we have made it half way across the Atlantic Ocean within five miles of world record pace – that is less than two hours rowing.”
At 2pm yesterday, the crew had covered 1,455 nautical miles, or 1674 miles, at an average of 3.56 knots (4.1 mph).
The team must sustain an average of 3.41 knots (3.9 mph) if they are to beat the current record.
However, it looks unlikely that they will realise their dream of a sub-30 day crossing, with an average of 4.43 knots (5.1 mph) required.
Beaumont first grabbed the headlines in 2008 by cycling round the world in 194 days and 17 hours – breaking the previous record by 81 days.
He then completed a cycling epic from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina before turning to rowing across the Arctic last year.
