4 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 4 hours beforehand.
Escorting the boat into Cowes Harbour was the local Cowes RNLI Atlantic-85 lifeboat, plus plenty of other well-wishers on other craft. As soon as the boat was moored alongside Trinity Landing the rowers – 2 men and 2 women – were given a rousing Champagne dousing.
Yesterday afternoon 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 whole circumnavigation of nearly 2,000 miles was done by superyacht 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.
The boat actually set out from Cowes with a 6-strong international crew, but 2 had to leave at separate times during the row for pressing reasons. Liz Grant, a New Zealander who lives in Southampton and is a chief officer with Red Funnel, had to leave the boat at Aberdeen for medical reasons, but she was at Cowes to welcome her fellow rowers. The 6th rower, Roy Hubbard, an American, also had to leave the boat at Skegness because of a family emergency.
At various points in the circumnavigation, the rowers 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 with sponsorship from Aquanobel, a Swedish water company.
