Atlantic rower arrives

[Scillypete]

The first britain to row across the atlantic singlehanded has just arrived in Scilly, passed the Bishop this morning and landed, briefly, at Porthcressa on St Mary's before heading round to the harbour and a reunion with his family. The guys name is Oliver Hicks, 23 years of age. Apparently he wants to load up with food and then head off for Falmouth I guess he is just getting into the flow of it by now!!!

 

[landaftaf]

I hope customs, the police, port state control, the coastguard, port health and immigration check him over - like they do when ppl arrive on yanky shores
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
ah ....... I see after actually reading all of your post he is one of us, in that case omit immigration.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EBunting]

Fantastic achievement, and an unimaginable effort, but not a first. Tom McClean was the first ever (thus also the first Briton) to row W-E solo across the Atlantic back in 1969. He was in an open dory, much like Blyth's and Ridgways (he, too, was a solder, though in the SAS), and he managed it in 70 days.

He went on to cross the Altantic again in a boat shaped like a bottle, and to circumnavigate the British Isles and Europe in a 65ft 'whale'. Mad!

 

[Scillypete]

Just relaying the statements made by his team down on the quay when he arrived, I must bow to any superior knowledge on the subject of who of these apparent madmen that row (or drift)such long distances is the first.

 

[Clive_Rigden]

What colour's his ensign? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Clive_Rigden]

wonderful effort though and a lesson to us all, especially when we decide to stay on the mooring in a force 7 . . .