So where did this all begin? Well it started with what I thought was
a somewhat throwaway comment from a friend of mine as I was getting into
a taxi one night on the way home. "Would you have any interest in
rowing across the Atlantic,” I think were the words used although
said in such a matter of fact tone as if he was asking me if I fancied
going out for a run or a game of golf or something. I think my reply was
something along the lines of "Are you serious?"
The following weeks consisted of doing some research into what I can only
describe as an overwhelming physical and mental challenge. As my friend
(Shane O'Neill) and I spoke more and more about the prospect of undertaking
this challenge, it became clear at an early stage that both of us were
very serious about this. And so what may have started as an idea or a
far off dream was now gathering some momentum. The first person I spoke
to about this was Tori. And virtually instantly Tori's mind began to wonder
whether or not this would be a project that she too could undertake.
Within a few weeks, all three of us were committed to pursuing the possibility
of competing in thee ultimate human endurance event on the planet - the
2005 transatlantic rowing race!
Internet research is one thing but the three of us quickly realised that
the most valuable source of information would be to actually talk to somebody
who had previously completed the task at hand. Only two people in Ireland
have ever undertaken and completed this challenge - Eamonn and Peter Kavanagh
from Arklow in Co Wicklow. So we tracked them down, met up with them and
at a very early stage of our planning received a massive reality check
as to what really is involved in this type of project. This was the best
thing that could have happened to us. After we spoke to Eamonn and went
out rowing with him and some of his team mates in Arklow, all three of
us sat down together over a bite to eat and had a serious heart to heart.
We now had a much more real picture of what was needed to not only complete
the trip but just to get us to the starting line. And while I know it
did frighten all three of us, it also increased our desire to go ahead
with this - I suppose in hindsight, this was the first of our many tests.
i.e. did we really truly want to go ahead with this having learned from
Eamonn how difficult and dangerous this trip would be. The answer from
all three of us was a resounding yes.
However, prior to meeting Eamonn, we had been looking at the possibility of using three of us in pairs' boat. After seeing Eamonn's boat, "the Christina", and talking to him as well as other boat designers, it became clear that this would not be possible. We would need a fourth rower. After racking our collective brains on who we knew who might firstly want to do something like this and secondly would be able for it, we came up with a short list. This was a very short list to be honest but unfortunately we couldn't get a fourth person.
So sometime in October 2004, we had to make a tough decision. The only way we were going to get to the starting line was as a pairs' team. The main reason for this is money. There were quite a few second hand fully equipped pairs boats available in the UK but virtually no boats out there at the moment designed for a crew of four. We would have been able to get a 4's boat built but this was just too expensive. So after quite a bit of soul searching and each of us looking at our own individual circumstances, it was decided that Tori and Paul would be the ones to compete in the race.
Not an easy decision to make but I suppose in order to make this project
a real success, some tough decisions and sacrifices will have to be made
and this is perhaps just the first of many.
So before going any further, we had to secure ourselves a boat. We made
contact with several boat owners in the UK who were interested in selling
their boats. However, we have been very fortunate, honoured and truly
humbled that Eamonn and Peter Kevanagh have very generously agreed to
allow us use their boat, "the Christina", for the race. Words
cannot do justice to express how grateful we are to the Eamonn and Peter.
To say this has been a massive boost to us is in itself a huge understatement.
I genuinely hope that some day we may be able to return this act of generosity.
Its
nice to know that the only 2 people from Ireland ever to have completed
this voyage, have the faith and confidence in us to lend us one of their
most prized possessions, to compete in.
Their boat was named after their mother and Eamonn and Peter finished
an amazing 5th in the inaugural race in 1997. So Tori and I are fully
aware that we must do the boat justice by finishing as high up as we can
in the 2005 race. I cannot honestly say that we could win the race but
I know that we will push ourselves beyond our limits to finish as high
up as we can.
At the time of writing these notes, it was exactly a year to the race
start date (27th of November 2005). Over the next twelve months, we will
be updating this section with every aspect of the build up to the race.
This coming year promises to be one of the most interesting years of our
lives which will culminate in challenge that ranks up there with the best
of them!
