Joy as Atlantic rower Kate sails past finish line
Kate Richardson arrives in Barbados.
WORLD record-breaker Kate Richardson is savouring being back on dry land for the first time since early December after a stunningly successful attempt to conquer the mighty Atlantic.
The 22-year-old Portadown psychology graduate and her four crew colleagues arrived into Barbados in the early hours of yesterday morning in triumph, having rowed the 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands.
Their time of under 46 days smashes the previous record of 52 for an unaided crossing by an all-female crew and makes them the first female crew of five to complete a major ocean row.
Youngest crew member Kate – who hadn’t rowed before signing up for this expedition last February – has also made history in becoming the first female from the island of Ireland ever to complete the Atlantic Challenge.
Competing under the banner of Row for Freedom, the five women took on the challenge of a lifetime to raise awareness of the growing world-wide problem of human trafficking and money for associated charities.
Utterly exhausted but elated, an emotional Kate hugged mum Marina and sister Kerry on the shore at Port St Charles after finally clambering off the tiny boat, Guardian, that has been her home for more than six weeks on the open ocean.
During that time, the intrepid explorers didn’t see sight of land, lived in cramped conditions on the 21-foot craft and endured daily difficulties in battling the extreme elements – including 40-foot waves – while coping with a series of technical failures.
As well as handling the fear factor, prolonged sleep deprivation, energy-sapping sea-sickness and nasty salt sores, equipment problems plagued the team with their auto-helm and water-making machine among the casualties.
Yet, although the women left La Gomera some 44 hours behind the other 16 boats taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, they finished a fantastic fifth – with the fourth best time.
That was in spite of experienced skipper Andrea Quigley withdrawing on the eve of the expedition, necessitating the delayed departure by the Row for Freedom crew which included three novice rowers.
“The Atlantic Challenge takes place every two years and, with six of the 17 boats not finishing, this was the toughest since 1995 – so for five ordinary girls, who didn’t really know what we were doing, to get here is quite an achievement,” enthused Kate with justifiable pride.
Admitting to feeling physically and emotionally drained by the marathon voyage, she told the News Letter that “for the final week in particular we were running on pure adrenalin as our bodies had started deteriorating markedly towards the end.
“We were wakening up in the mornings with claw hands – cramped into the rowing positions – to go with sore backs and aching muscles. You just have to get on with it, though.
“It was a real rollercoaster and there were tough times but we were a wonderful team and kept each other in high spirits throughout, helped by the knowledge that there has been such support back home.
“Buoyed by the thought of seeing our loved ones as soon as possible and driven by our passion for the anti-trafficking cause, we never wavered in our determination not only to get across the Atlantic but to break the record.
“We were daydreaming about Barbados from way before Christmas so you can imagine the range of emotions as we rowed that final few miles – a sense of achievement, satisfaction, elation, excitement and relief rolled into one, on top of extreme tiredness.
“It was overwhelming when we finally got there, with a real release and outpouring of emotion when we were reunited with our loved ones.
“Knowing we really had made it at last was a very special feeling and the memories will stay with us forever.
“Apart from anything else, spending six weeks in a small boat out on a vast ocean carries real risk, so our families have been through a lot too, in terms of constantly fearing for our safety.
“After all this time, it’s been brilliant to get fresh food and a shower – but getting to hug my mum and Kerry was the biggest treat of all,” said Kate, fresh from her first proper sleep of 2012.
For more information on the Atlantic Challenge, visit www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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