This article first appeared in  the June 2010 edition of AllAtSea, a regional yachting magazine based in St,. Thomas, USVI.See www.AllAtSea.net © 2010 by David H. Lyman (DHLyman@mac.com)

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The last of the Transatlantic rowers arrived in English Harbor on Antigua, on April 24. James Ketchell completed the 2009/2010 Woodvale Challenge, a grueling 2,548 mile row across  the Atlantic to Antigua in 110 days. Now, there are easier ways to reach this vacation island than to row thousands of miles, but the point is not getting to Antigua, its the doing of it that counts. This annual competition is one of the worlds great “extreme sports.” The ordeal is akin to other personal challenges, like climbing Mount Everest, rounding Cape Horne, transiting the Northwest Passage, or surviving a winter on a small boat locked in the ice of Antarctica.

Alone . . . realy alone, rowing across ther Atlantic for 110 days . . .

James Ketchell, or Ketch for short, from Hamshire England arrived feeling “rather good . .  what I’m looking for right now is a cheeseburger and a cold coke.” An account manager for Avnet Solutions, a UK IT firm, Ketch’s voyage took two years of planning and preparation. His adventure, like most, cost just over $25,000 in personal and corporate funds. Companies like Speedo contributed $3000. Other companies provide gear and his own company gave him 8 months off to complete this personal quest. Upon stepping ashore at English Harbor, wobbly and hungry, Ketch said the lesson the voyage taught him included: “just keep going . . . just keep going . . .”  A hand written message over the companion way door was his constant reminder.

Leo Rosette from Boston, one of only two Americans in this year’s Challenge, arrives in Antigua after 102 days at sea, over three months . . . alone with his boat.

This annual challenge is not a competition . . . at 2 knots one can hardly call it a race. It’s not about who comes in first or last. Every one who finishes wins. Its about the struggle one faces when confronted by forces far greater them ones’ self. “The ocean allowed me to make this passage,” said one rower. Leo Rosette, a 59 year old a retired US Marshal, who arrived after 102 days at sea said . . . . “The ocean gave me three lessons, One: Be afraid. Two: Don’t be greedy, take what the ocean gives you, Three:  The sea is unpredictable, it will suddenly change.”  Leo, who lost 35 pounds en-route said he’d not do this again, but was glad for having completed the voyage. “The hardest part of this voyage will be the next 200 strokes to the landing area,” he told me when I met him at the entrance to English Harbor.   “I’m looking at climbing Mount Everest in two years,” said the wiry ex-military policeman.

Leo Rosette and his wife at the finish. She’s just arrived, minutes before Leo touched shore on Antigua.

The Woodvale Challenge is an opportunity to test one’s self.  More than 30 boats entered this year’s race across the Atlantic. The winds and current help push the fleet along, and while the towering waves can be daunting, no one capsized and no one was lost. The field of over 50 rowers was made up of teams in two and four person boats, with 10 brave souls making the two to three month trip solo.   One of teams was made up of two women, Melanie King, 37 and Anne Januszewski, 41, both from the UK. They made their crossing in 77 days.  The record crossing time is 33 days and 7 hours.  The field of international participants included only two Americans. The majority of the rowers were from the UK.

Boats abandoned after their voyage are moored in English Harbor  to await  transport back to the UK. Many will be re-fitted and sold or leases to others who want to face the Challenge.

Now that all but one of the boats have arrived (one poor sole is so far off course, he’ll have to be towed back to Antigua), Woodvale has organized an award celebration and banquet in London for May 22 for all the rowers. For information on the next series of rowing challenges, which includes an Indian Ocean trek, visit atlanticrowingrace09.com. For information on the boats visit woodvale-challenge.com.

You can read Ketch’s blog at www.AtlanticAdventurer.com.

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Boogie-Woogy, one of the two-man boats upon its arrival rest, at Nelson’s Dock Yard in English Harbor, Antigua . . .  2,500 miles from the start of this season’s Woodvale Challenge. Team Boogie Woogie, Ole Elmer & Brian Heron crossed the finish line with a crossing time of 96 days, 20hours and 15 minutes.