After seven weeks at sea, the Hodge sponsored rowing staff Flyin’ Fish is anticipated to achieve Kuaui in Hawaii on August 2nd.
The five-strong staff participating in ‘The World’s Hardest Row’ left Monterey Bay in California on June twelfth and have been rowing the two,800 miles to the ‘Backyard Island’ of Kauai in Hawaii ever since.
Retired solicitor for Abergavenny Elaine Theaker celebrated her sixtieth birthday on board the boat a couple of days into the row with a meal of dehydrated fish in parsley sauce and mashed potato, with some well-deserved Haribo sweets for pudding.
Only a few days after the celebrations the crew have been struck by catastrophe when the Flyin’ Fish’s rudder was sheared off by a storm and left the staff stranded, using out the dangerous climate circumstances for every week till they might exchange the rudder and keep it up with the problem.
Elaine, who continues to be on board the Flyin’ Fish, stated: “We deployed the boat’s parachute anchor to minimise backwards drift and toughed it out for 5 days and nights till calmer circumstances arrived.
“Happily, we had taken the precaution of packing a spare rudder aboard, by no means considering we might ever want it. After 5 days of going nowhere, the ocean state was sufficiently calm to permit a couple of of us to enter the water and set about fixing within the substitute rudder. As soon as on, we have been in a position to make progress once more, retracing the 80 nautical miles we had drifted backwards after which onwards to Hawaii. We misplaced every week, however rowed on.”
Elaine continued: “Rowing an ocean is as a lot about resilience as it’s dedication, energy and health – and because of another navigation points, we now have proven this in truckloads. Our reward for our efforts is to witness issues that few others have, comparable to watching breeching whales at shut hand, pods of porpoise, curious sunfish swimming as much as the boat and even albatross touchdown alongside for a relaxation.
“We now have been handled to magnificent views of the evening sky in all its glory in addition to unbelievable sunsets and sunrises, however we at the moment are, greater than something, wanting ahead to setting foot on dry land and seeing our family and friends.
“We might be perpetually grateful for the assistance and help that Hodge has given us in making this problem a actuality”, Elaine added.
Elaine took on the row to boost cash for 4 nationwide air ambulance crews, together with Air Ambulance Wales, and SSAFA – the Armed Forces Charity, with sponsorship from Hodge.
As a specialist in later life finance, and the founding father of her personal agency, Benefit Authorized, for 16 years earlier than her retirement, Elaine can be an completed tremendous boat river rower who rowed the Atlantic in 2017 with a feminine trio in 60 days and 18 hours, reaching two Guinness World Data within the course of.
Dave Landen, CEO of Hodge, stated: “I salute Elaine and her staff on their energy, ingenuity and perseverance within the eye of such a terrific problem. The staff work, the persistence and the nice humour they’ve shared to get this far is really awe inspiring – and all to boost a lot wanted funds for air ambulance crews throughout the UK.
“Hodge is proud to be sponsoring the Flyin’ Fish staff and need all of them one of the best for any future challenges.”
