Atlantic rowers gather in La Gomera - Tenerife News - News from Tenerife Canary Islands Spain

Atlantic rowers gather in La Gomera

It’s that time of year again, the time when a stream of brave – some might say foolhardy – souls clamber into terrifyingly small boats to row the 3,000 odd miles alone and westward to landfall and glory in the Antilles. Many try, most fail, but to date some 33 have made it across successfully.

The first ever solo crossing was made by a Brit, John Fairfax, who arrived in Florida on July 19 1969, 180 days after leaving Gran Canaria.
The first solo crossing by a woman was that of Tori Munden, an American, who took 81 days to row from Tenerife to Guadeloupe which she reached on December 3 1999.
Weather permitting two hopefuls are scheduled to leave what has become the most popular rowing departure point in the archipelago, San Sebastián de La Gomera, on November 30.
Bhavik Ghandi, a 29-year-old businessman, is hoping to become the first Asian to row the Atlantic. No stranger to endurance challenges, he has taken part in distance runs, mountain climbs, trekked through the Lake Baikal region of Siberia in winter and cycled 3,000 miles from Stockholm, where he is currently based, to Istanbul.
Now Bhavik Ghandi faces his biggest challenge yet: crossing the Atlantic in his little boat Miss Olive.
On the same day another challenger is registered to set out from San Sebastián, mainlander Andreu Mateu of Tarragona who, if he succeeds will also be scoring a first: the first Spaniard to row solo across the Atlantic.
This oarsman lived and worked happily enough in the New York rat race for several years until one fine day he had a road-to-Damascus moment. He left his downtown office, went home and took a 24 hour break to review his life. To make a long story short he sold up his home and embarked on a life of world travel and adventure.
Over the years Andreu Mateu’s achievements have grown to include crossing Europe and Africa by bike and swimming the Gibraltar Straits. He regards the Atlantic row not only as his greatest personal challenge to date, but the realization of his ultimate dream.
Ghandi and Mateu are this season’s trailblazers. In the coming weeks several other boats will be setting out from La Gomera, among them a veteran British vessel with a tragic past. Watch this space for more rowing news!

Atlantic rowers gather in La Gomera - Tenerife News - News from Tenerife Canary Islands Spain