Four rowers, whose specially designed boat had circled Britain to raise funds for the RNLI, returned to Cowes on Sunday, where the ambitious challenge all began 43 days and four hours before.
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.
£10,000 raised for RNLI
There was also a chance for Cowes lifeboat members to present a cheque, intended to show that the circumnavigation had raised £8,775 – although the rowers believed the final figure would be nearer £10,000.
The boat actually set out from Cowes with a six-strong international crew, but two had to leave at separate times during the row for pressing reasons.
2,000 miles rowed
The whole circumnavigation of nearly 2,000 miles was done by super yacht 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, but from Australia.
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, an American, had to leave the boat at Skegness because of a family emergency.
At various points in the circumnavigation they were delighted to be joined for a while by an RNLI lifeboat from a local station.
The rowing boat was loaned for the event by Tom and Charlie Salt, and sponsorship came from Aquanobel, a Swedish water company.
News shared by George on behalf of Cowes RNLI. Ed
