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Four rowers from Jersey are still fighting to keep alive the dream of becoming the oldest female crew to row across an ocean.
Competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge as one of 37 boats racing from the Canary Islands to Antigua, the impressive progress of the Intrepid 232 crew was checked at the start of the week by strong winds threatening to blow them off course.
The foursome – Julie Brady, Helene Monpetit, Rosemary Satchwell and Alison Smithurst – have been forced to deploy their para-anchor in order to maintain their position, just over 30 nautical miles east of the finish line.
A spokesperson for the crew, writing on social media, said the crew were "totally spent up, and running on fumes”, but had a glimmer of hope that conditions may improve by Friday in order to allow them to complete the 2,700 nautical mile race.
The four rowers aim to become the oldest female crew to row any ocean, but can only claim that title by finishing unassisted, with followers warned yesterday of an “ever-increasing likelihood” of the need to be towed to the finish.
Race Safety Officer Ian Couch, who said he had been in contact with the crew every few hours, was a little more optimistic.
In an update shared on social media, he said: "As immensely frustrating as it is for the crew this is the essence of ocean rowing – the actual rowing is a small part compared with boat handling, resourcefulness, mental strength and patience.
"It may be they stay on para-anchor until the conditions change more.
"They can make it in, it will take time but it is certainly possible."
Pictured: the Intrepid crew started the race on 13 December (World's Toughest Row)
Since setting off from the Canary Island on La Gomera on 13 December, the crew had made impressive progress over the first seven weeks of the race, passing the 200 nautical miles to go mark on 30 January before conditions worsened.
Organisers have shared new pictures of the Intrepid crew, taken by the safety boat while organisers were checking in with the rowers on 30 January.
The team have now surpassed their fundraising target of £10,000. Half the proceeds will go to the Grace Crocker Foundation, which supports families while children receive medical treatment in the UK, with the remainder going to the Blue Marine Foundation, which works to protect the ocean by addressing overfishing.
The team’s fundraising page can be found HERE, while more details on the race, including a tracker for the team’s latest position, can be found online HERE.
Pictured - top: Race organisers took pictures of the Intrepid crew on 30 January prior to weather conditions worsening. (World's Toughest Row)
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