Ocean Rowing - Circumnavigation of Britain

Circumnavigation of Britain

In 2010 two Army doctors, Nick Dennison and Hamish Reid circumnavigated mainland Britain (Lymington to Lymington) in a single journey in an ocean rowing boat. The pair completed the 2,100 mile journey in 50 days and 5 hours.

In 2005, four intrepid Army officers rowed around GB mainland in an unprecendented 26 days. As they started and finished at Tower Bridge in London, and were completely unassisted and rowed non-stop,Guinness World Records designated their effort with "fastest unsupported row circumnavigating UK mainland waters". In 2008 and 2009 the challenge was independantly attempted again, each ending in failure. In 2010, Sir Richard Branson sponsored the inaugural multi boat race, called Virgin GB Row 2010. Four crews entered but only 2 made it through rigorous scrutiny to the Start line. The mens crew in ORCA were forced to retire as the boat lost its anchor at Wolf Rock, off Lands End, leaving the Ladies crew to battle adverse unseasonal weather to complete the Race, coming up the Thames to finish in 51 days, again setting a new World Record as the fastest unsupported Ladies four to comlete the entire challenge, starting and finishing at Tower Bridge in London. In 2013, at least 12 boats will race for the honours of World Records plus a chance at winning the biggest cash prize in rowing history - £100,000 to the first boat to beat the fastest time world record.