2 August 2006

After 53 days at sea competing in the inaugural Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006, current race leaders, Boat No. 2 – James Robert Hanssen moves in to the final 400 nautical miles of the crossing with an estimated finish date in to Falmouth of 11 August 2006.

Organised by Devonshire based events company, Woodvale Events Ltd, the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006 started from New York Harbour, USA on Saturday 10 June 2006 and four teams of four courageous individuals have been rowing 2,863 nautical miles non stop across the notorious and sometimes unpredictable North Atlantic Ocean to Falmouth, UK.

As one of the toughest endurance races to have ever taken place, the four crews have experienced a number of obstacles along the way and only 24 hours after the start, the first crew were forced to withdraw due to boat damage caused by the pounding North Atlantic Sea and the extreme weather conditions. Three days later, the remaining crews were hit by the full force of Tropical Storm Alberto, which brought winds of 50 knots, huge swells and torrential rain. This was a humbling time for these 12 brave men and the experience can only be likened to being whirled around in a washing machine whilst being powerless to do anything to aid the situation.

Having come through all of this and with the end in sight, the crew of the Seattle, USA based James Robert Hanssen, Jordan Hanssen, Dylan Le Valley, Greg Spooner and Brad Vickers take a short time out of their strenuous rowing shifts to reflect on what they are about to achieve. As the first ever North Atlantic Ocean Rowing Race, not only will they become the winners of this historic event but they also have a chance of becoming the first ever ocean rowing crew to row unaided from mainland USA to mainland UK.

The Race finish line for the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006 is offshore with a North/South line running along longitude 06 26.74W (Bishop Rock). In order to officially complete and receive a race placing in the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006, the rowing boat must cross this line in-between the latitudes of 49 48.00N and 49 06.00N (The Race finish gate). Having crossed this race finish line, the crew will then row in to Falmouth to the Events pontoon alongside the National Maritime Museum.

Woodvale Events Managing Director, Simon Chalk Comments:
“As a fellow ocean rower myself, I know only too well what all of these crews have been through over the past two months - the highs when you find yourself so close to the oceans marine wildlife in its natural habitat and the fantastic sunsets and sunrises but also the lows of the extreme weather conditions, the huge seas and the demoralising feeling of rowing all day only to find that you have been pushed 10 miles backwards.

“This has been a fantastically close fought race right from the outset and it is amazing to see that after nearly 3,000 nautical miles, all three crews are so closely bunched together. To complete this crossing is a huge undertaking and an immense achievement and I cannot wait to greet each crew in to Falmouth over the following few weeks.”

Coinciding with Falmouth Regatta Week, Woodvale Events Ltd would like to encourage as many people as possible to come down to the National Maritime Museum to witness history in the making and to give these amazing adventurers the welcome that they so definitely deserve.

For further information about the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006 or to request high resolution photographs, please contact:

Teresa Page
Press Officer, Woodvale Events Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 7917 081287
E-mail: teresa@woodvale-events.com
URL: www.oceanfoursrowingrace.com
URL: www.woodvale-events.com