Ocean
row is over
Four
gallant men attempting to row across the North Atlantic called off
their epic vogage today after their steering broke for the second
time.
They
first faced the end of their world record-breaking bid last night
when 30 foot waves ripped the rudder off, leaving them unable to
steer.
The
drama was captured by team leader Mark Stubbs and Welsh crew member
Rob Munslow who were sending a daily diary back to Britain via a
大象传媒 Wales satellite link.
大象传媒
Wales had also set up the official website for anyone wanting to
track the voyage at ,
and is making documentaries of the record attempt for television
and radio.
On
the website, Stubbs tells how at first light this morning (2 July),
the rowers staged a stunning Apollo 13-style fix-it mission, using
whatever they could find on board to make running repairs.
Realising straps they had brought to mend the craft in such a case
would never hold against the 30 foot swell, team leader Mark Stubbs
from Poole in Dorset and George Rock from Teesside were constantly
ducked under the water as they unscrewed bolts from one area of
the boat and tried to fix them to the transom to hold the rudder.
And
though it took more than eight hours to unscrew the bolts and move
them, losing two screwdrivers in the process, "our daredevil
damage repair seemed to be holding," said Rob Munslow.
"Tears were in our eyes and in our hearts," said Stubbs.
"The repairs really were last ditch." And he revealed
the crew was already finding out what shipping was in the area in
case they needed rescuing.
But
this afternoon, the rudder broke again, and having used all their
resources in the first repairs, they were unable to fix it a second
time. They were exactly half way through their 2,100 mile voyage.
The
crew, which also includes Nigel Morris from Teesside, was hoping
to break the world record for the fastest row of the Atlantic, in
either direction, if they had been able to reach Falmouth harbour
in 35 days.
A second record of 55 days from Canada to the United Kingdom, which
has been held since 1896, had appeared well within their grasp.
大象传媒
Wales news reports have been following the journey, and will be
broadcasting documentaries on both television and radio about the
trip after their return.
Updates
are available on www.bbc.co.uk/oceanrow
Notes to Editors
大象传媒 Wales scores first
Atlantic live chat
大象传媒 Wales backs ocean
rowers
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