Girls set new world record in Virgin GB Row
After an incredible seven weeks at sea in a tiny 24-foot-long rowing boat, four women are set to complete an epic 2,010-mile journey rowing non-stop around Britain.
The all female crew set out on June 1 to race a team of men around the British mainland. But when the male team gave up after less than two weeks, the women carried on alone and without any assistance for five more weeks.
These brave women have spent the last 50 days at sea in the world’s toughest rowing race – Virgin GB Row 2010 – living in a boat that is so small only two people can sleep in the cabins. The other two have to sit outside in all weathers.
During that time they were: swamped by huge waves which put the boat’s water maker out of action; almost sunk by a rogue wave that flooded the front cabin, survived storms, navigated some of the most treacherous tides on the planet, almost been mown down by ships, bombed by the RAF and run short of water.
One rower broke her finger setting off a flare to warn off a ship that was on a collision course. She then carried on rowing with a broken finger by strapping her hand to the oar.
Sir Richard Branson said: “Go Seagals!!! I knew I was right to back to girls in beating the boys in the first ever Virgin GB Row and I’m over the moon that such brave women have achieved a World Record in such a spectacular fashion! This is why we set up the Virgin Trophy – Belinda, Angela, Laura and Beverley have pushed through extreme tiredness, hunger and serious injury to battle on and achieve the goal they set out to achieve. Britain has something to be proud of this summer after all! I hope they will get all of Britain’s support when they record up the Thames on Thursday to claim their World Record and the Trophy!”
