Mid-Atlantic recovery for Skandia Ocean Row team

by MHL on 4 Jul 2002 The Skandia Ocean Row team, whose record-attempt to shatter ocean-rowing
records was abandoned yesterday due to gear failure, was picked up today by
the 'Bar Protector', a five-deck dive ship, at 07.30 BST. The team's hi-tech
rowing boat, Skandia Atlantic Spirit, was also successfully recovered using
a computerised winch attached to the ship's onboard crane.

The crew are well, have been in touch with their families, and are now en
route to Aberdeen, UK.

After having completed exactly half of their 2100-mile journey, the brave
British foursome were forced to abandon their record breaking attempt just
north of the Azores, exactly mid-way between St John's, Newfoundland, and
Falmouth, Cornwall. Until yesterday, the crew was still on target to beat
the 55-day Atlantic crossing record by more than 10 days.

The rudder, an integral part of the vessel that is used for steering, was
damaged in a storm on Sunday night (30th of June). Using spare parts kept on
board the 30-foot rowing boat, the crew was initially successful in
repairing the damage. However, the force of the water on the rudder was too
much, and it broke again yesterday at 1400hrs BST.

The shore crew was immediately notified, and a recovery plan was set in
motion to rescue the crew yesterday evening.

The team, led by Poole-based fire fighter Mark Stubbs, including George Rock
(Teesside), Nigel Morris (Teesside) and Rob Munslow (Monmouth) set off from
Newfoundland, Canada on the 11th of June and were aiming to be the first
rowing-record attempt ever to reach mainland Great Britain.