Isle of Wight resident Bob White will be retracing the cross-channel row of Dave Howlett half-a-century ago between Guernsey and Shanklin today (Friday).
On 21st May 1972, Dave Howlett rowed from St Peter’s Port in Guernsey to Shanklin in the Isle of Wight in an 11ft homemade dinghy to raise money for the RNLI. Dave was the only person to have attempted the 100-mile voyage at the time.
The journey took 37 hours and raised £50 for the lifeboats. Dave battled through busy shipping lanes, force 5 winds, heavy rain, rough seas, and a loss of contact with the signal stations. He managed to row 95 miles but had to be towed the final 4 miles due to the adverse weather conditions.
To recreate the journey, Bob White will be boarding a Condor Ferries vessel in St Peter Port today (Friday) to take him to Portsmouth and will complete the journey using a Wightlink FastCat and Island Line train.
Bob White discovered the story of Mr Howlett’s epic row through his stamp collecting hobby.
Bob said:
“I came across a philatelic cover of Dave’s journey. I learned that Dave carried 500 covers with him in the boat, which were sold to raise money for both St Peter Port and Sandown and Shanklin RNLI services.”
Bob readily admits that his Cross-Channel journey is nowhere near as challenging as that of Dave Howlett, but says it is more about remembering his story, appreciating the lifeboat services of both islands, and transferring the philatelic covers to commemorate the half-centenary.
100 philatelic covers will be carried on Bob’s journey to remember Dave’s epic feat. The anniversary covers will be available for collectors to purchase.
Dave Howlett currently lives in Cornwall, and Bob will be sending 1 of the anniversary covers to him.
Donations to the Isle of Wight and Guernsey lifeboat services can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oaresomeadventure.
The philatelic covers to be carried on Bob White’s journey may be viewed below (credit: Guernsey Post):
He will be lucky if there is a Cat, and more lucky if an Island Train meets the Cat !!!