Shropshire rowers' Transatlantic race further delayed by weather
Extreme weather has caused further delays for a team of women rowers - two of whom are from Shropshire - attempting to cross the Atlantic in a £50,000 boat.
The three women were due to cast off from San Sebastian de La Gomera in the Canary Islands in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
But gale force winds, racing at up to 40 knots, meant the 28 teams competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge were forced to stay on dry land.
And a rocky forecast meant another day of rest yesterday for the sailors.
Named the Atlantic Ladies, the team comprises of retired NHS worker Dianne Carrington from Pontesbury, Shrewsbury midwife Sharon Magrath and lawyer Elaine Theaker from Abergavenny.
They are aiming to complete the 3,000 mile trip from San Sebastian de La Gomera to Antigua in record time.
During the row, the group is hoping to break three world records as Dianne will be the oldest woman to row across the Atlantic – the current record being 57 – as she will be 61 when she takes on the challenge.
They also believe they are the only crew of three females to row any ocean and hope to be the fastest crew of three females to row any ocean.
Teams from around the world have been in training for up to two years in preparation for the gruelling race.
More people have climbed Everest or been into space than have successfully rowed the Atlantic, and it is considered to be one of the toughest challenges on the planet.
The race offers different experiences to all those involved and for the plucky trio there is a constant battle of sleep deprivation, blisters, salt sores and the physical extremes that the challenge will inflict from two-hour shifts around the clock for weeks on end.
The world record to cross the Atlantic is 30 days and the longest is 120 days, making it the toughest rowing race.
Inspired by Chay Blythe,the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is the world’s number one ocean endurance race and is organised by atlanticcampaigns.com.
To follow the progress of the Atlantic Ladies go to taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2017racetracker
Antigua and Barbuda’s 2015 team made the Guinness book of world records with the oldest team and oldest rower on deck.
