Rowers set record in epic 43-day round-Britain row

Four rowers whose specially designed 10m boat Emma has circled Britain to raise funds for the RNLI returned on Sunday to Cowes, where their ambitious challenge began 43 days and four hours before.

By completing the voyage, the Ready, Salt Row team has set the first world record for the first mixed team to row circa 2,000 miles unassisted nonstop around mainland Great Britain.

Escorting the boat into Cowes Harbour was the local lifeboat plus well-wishers on other craft. As soon as the boat was moored alongside Trinity Landing the rowers, two men and two women, were given a rousing champagne dousing.

The circumnavigation has raised £8,775 – although the rowers believe the final figure will be nearer £10,000.

The boat set out from Cowes with a six-strong international crew, but two had to leave at separate times during the row for pressing reasons.

The whole circumnavigation of nearly 2,000 miles was completed by superyacht captain Andy Burns, formerly from Cowes, Simone Talfauld, freelance film marketeer, from Colchester, James Scott, an electrician and a member of Plymouth RNLI lifeboat, and Mia Showell-Woodsmith, a lawyer in the City.

A fifth rower, Liz Grant, a New Zealander who lives in Southampton and is a chief officer with Red Funnel Steamers, had to leave the boat at Aberdeen for medical reasons, but she was at Cowes to welcome her fellow rowers. The sixth rower, Roy Hubbard, had to leave the boat at Skegness because of a family emergency.

The rowing boat was loaned for the event by Tom and Charlie Salt, and sponsorship came from Aquanobel, a Swedish water company.

Readers can make a donation on the team’s JustGiving page.

Lead image courtesy of RNLI/Nick Edwards.