Rowing for heroes

Tuesday June 8, 2010

All that stands between two brave men and immortality is 2,100 miles of dangerous sea and 45 days of rowing, while navigating some of the most treacherous coastline in the world. Should be a piece of cake, right?

That's the challenge facing two army doctors, including Fulham resident Hamish Reid, 28, if they are to become the first pair to row continuously and unsupported around Britain, and they hope to raise £20,000 for charity into the bargain.

Hamish's nervous fiancee Jess Lindsay, 25, who stayed behind at their Stephendale Road home when he departed on May 12, can only track their adventure via a GPS tracker on the internet.

It's one which could require up to 20 hours of rowing a day and will land both men in the Guinness Book of World Records if successful. She said: "They've formed a good team. They're very different people but somehow they get on with it. I'd end up killing someone if it was me."

After setting off in their custom-made 15ft boat from Lymington, south of Southampton, Hamish and captain Nick Dennison, 28, from Bristol, will wave to Land's End, tackle the Irish Sea and dodge the Scottish Isles before heading down the east coast of England for a June 26 finish.

A four-man team showed the way in 2005 but no pair has ever successfully completed the gruelling schedule which can demand two hours of rowing followed by two hours of sleep, on and off, throughout the day.

They hope to raise funds for Help For Heroes and ABF - the soldiers' charity.

Jess, who is originally from New Zealand and who has lived in Fulham for a year, said: "I have spoken to Hamish via satellite phone but I had told him that our heating wasn't working.

"I think it might be best if I leave them to get on with it."

The pair, who met while training at Sandhurst Academy, which they passed out of in 2008, endured training which included a mini-version of their current challenge - circumnavigating the Isle Of Wight - in preparation.

Jess said: "This challenge is more complicated than rowing across the Atlantic, which they previously considered, where you head from one point to roughly near another.

"They must have thought let's stress out everyone we know and do something even more complicated.

"With this they can't drift at all, they have to stay away from the rocks and they'll go through areas with very dangerous tides. Their boat, the Komale, is also pretty small when you consider the waves they'll face."

Hamish, who is based with the Royal Engineers in Salisbury and who only started rowing a year and a half ago, could also face the new challenge of tying the knot once back on land.

Jess said: "It's hard to pin him down. Its an amazing challenge and I'll be so proud of him if he can do it but it will be nice to have our life back afterwards, outside of the boat."

To follow Hamish's progress visit: www.rowforheroes.com (opens new window).