A MULTI-NATIONAL crew of eight amateur rowers - including South Devon's Simon Chalk - have smashed a record that has remained unbroken for 38 years, for the fastest ever crossing of the Indian Ocean by rowing boat.

The elite crew, rowing a custom built 36ft long ocean rowing boat named 'Aud Eamus', set off from Geraldton, Western Australia on April 28.

And having rowed a mammoth 3,132 nautical miles across the treacherous and unpredictable Indian Ocean, they arrived at Mauritius, after just 58 days, 15 hours and 8 minutes at sea, knocking an impressive six days off the previous route record.

The crew of eight comprising British nationals Simon Chalk (36), Ian Couch (39), Helen Taylor (22) and Paul Cannon (39), Americans Angela Madsen (49), Doug Tuminello (43), and Brian Flick (23), together with Bernard Fissett (46) from Belgium, were all recruited by nautical events company, Woodvale Challenge Ltd as part of the Woodvale Works Team concept.

Bringing a range of skills, adventure, ocean rowing and ultra endurance experience with them, the crew of Aud Eamus was assembled specifically with the aim of setting an Indian Ocean rowing crossing speed record.

Through their success in achieving this goal, they also claim a number of other Indian Ocean rowing records that include the first eight man crew, the first paraplegic Angela Madsen, the first females, Angela Madsen and Helen Taylor, and the first person to row the Indian Ocean twice, Simon Chalk.

Paignton based Chalk, crew member of Aud Eamus and Chairman of Woodvale Challenge Ltd commented: "We have pushed hard, battled against the elements and overcome all the obstacles to achieve what we set out to do. It's a fantastic feeling to be here knowing that we have made a little bit of history in setting these new records".

"It was a pleasure to share this opportunity and unique experience with seven other like-minded people, all with the same drive, determination and tenacity. Woodvale Challenge now looks forward to bringing together more like-minded individuals and forming 'Woodvale Works Teams' for the purpose of setting more ocean rowing records".

The Woodvale Works Team involves a pay-per-place concept where individuals who wish to row an ocean as part of an elite crew, solely with the purpose of breaking and establishing records can apply to join the crew onboard a purpose built ocean rowing boat.

Woodvale Works Teams are currently being recruited for other ocean record attempts including the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean later on this year.

Chalk has become synonymous with ocean rowing. His rowing record includes: with George Rock (GB) aboard Cellnet Atlantic Challenger he left Los Gigantes, Tenerife, Canary Islands, on October 12 1997 arriving in Barbados, West Indies, on December 15 1997. They rowed 3012 miles in 64 days 5 hours; with Bill Greaves (GB) aboard Elssea 111 he left Kalbarri, Western Australia, on May 15 2002 and after two days at sea capsized and were rescued on May 17 2002; aboard True Spirit he left Kalbarri, Western Australia on February 27 2003 arriving at the longitude of Rafael Island on June 15 2003 to become the youngest British rower to row the Indian Ocean. He had rowed 4,027 miles in 107 days; with Ben Thackwray, Mike Martin, George Oliver, Ian Couch and Andrew Morris (GB) aboard Oyster Shack left San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands, on December 5 2007 but returned on December 6 2007 after one day at sea due to Andrew Morris aggravating an old knee injury; and with Ben Thackwray, Mike Martin, George Oliver, and Ian Couch aboard Oyster Shack left San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands, on December 23 2007 arriving at English Harbour, Antigua, on January 29 2008. They had rowed 3,011 miles in 37 days, 5 hours and 50 minutes. They were the first five-man crew to row an ocean.

AFTER rowing a colossal 3,132 nautical miles, non-stop across the Indian Ocean, Britons Phil McCorry, (24), brother Nick McCorry (25), Matt Hellier (20) and Ian Allen (25), crew members of Boat No. 7 'Bexhill Trust Challenger', have also made history by winning the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009.

'Bexhill Trust Challenger' was rowed by four members of Bexhill Rowing Club who regularly row at the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta.

Two months previously, these lifelong friends set off from Western Australia, together with nine other international crews, five of which have since retired from the race, in this unique, ultra-endurance, ocean adventure. And 68 days, 19 hours and 40 minutes later, the Bexhill Trust Challenger, a 29ft long purposely designed composite ocean rowing boat, triumphantly crossed the finish line off Mauritius.

By winning the Race, the crew of the Bexhill Trust Challenger have also become the first ever team of four to row across the Indian Ocean and crew member, Matt Hellier at the age of 20, is the youngest.

Paignton based Simon Chalk, Chairman of race organisers Woodvale Challenge commented: "Many congratulations to the crew of Bexhill Trust Challenger on wining this most gruelling of Ocean Rowing Races in such impressive style.

"Just four successful crossings prior to this race proves how difficult this adventure is but the guys onboard Bexhill have run a faultless campaign from start to finish and their success is completely justified.

"There are still four teams to finish the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009, expected to arrive in to Mauritius over the next few weeks. Woodvale Challenge Ltd will then look forward to the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009, starting later on this year".

Aboard one of the remaining boats, Row for Prostate, is Tom Wigram, aged 31, who emigrated from Bovey Tracey to New Zealand six years ago.

His parents Sue and James still live in Bovey Tracey and he is a former Newton Abbot Whites rugby player having spent six years with the club.

The crew currently lie in third place about five hundred miles from the finish line off Mauritius.

Tom's mum Sue who will meet him on Mauritius commented: "I spoke to Tom yesterday, and they are making lists of stuff they want us to take to Mauritius. Also, they are loving the rowing with the wind behind them and making some excellent miles, so hopefully not too much longer before we see them. Tom thinks theJuly 9"

IN another ocean South Devon based Mick Dawson of Chudleigh set out from Choshi in Japan with Chris Martin aboard Bojangles in an attempt to become the first to row across the North Pacific finishing under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco in the USA.

Much of their time has been spent rowing into the Kyroshiro current which will assist them across the Pacific. Most days they have encountered bad weather and spent many hours on the para-anchor.

They have covered 1,600 miles but still have another 3,500 miles to reach the Golden Gate Bridge.

Mick Dawson is a professional Yacht Captain and a former Royal Marine. Currently the master of a luxury private yacht in Africa, Mick has many years of sea-going experience to his name. He is also the veteran of four ocean rowing projects.

He successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2001 with his brother Steve, and then went on to repeat this feat in 2005. Whilst working for the company organising that year's Atlantic Rowing Race, he rescued one of the participating vessels and two days later, replaced one of the crew, going on to complete his second crossing.