Wigram into second half of ocean row

AFTER nearly six weeks at sea just six crews remain in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race and former Bovey Tracey man Tom Wigram and his teammates are currently tussling for second place.

Ten crews left Geraldton, Western Australia back on April 19, heading 3,100 nautical mile course to Mauritius.

The leading fours crews are through the halfway mark but the pairs and remaining solo are just a third of the way towards their destination.

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

His parents Sue and James still live in Bovey Tracey and he is a former Newton Abbot Whites rugby player.

He spent six years with the club, with highlights including representing Devon and winning the Devon Cup for Newton Abbot RFC in 2004.

Row for Prostrate neck and neck with the all female four aboard Pura Vida.

Out in fron, The Bexhill Trust Challenger, rowed by four members of Bexhill Rowing Club - who regularly row at the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta - have built a lead of 150 miles following their early decision to take a northerly route whilst the other crews in the race are some 500 miles to the south.

This decision has paid enormous dividends because they have had an almost unrestricted row over the past two weeks while those to the south have been faced with storm after storm.

The crews were met almost immediately with six metre waves and Row for Prostate has encountered a variety of problems since leaving Geraldton. Their seat runners broke up meaning they have had to resort to fixed seat rowing.

However, the message from Row for Prostate is: "All things considered, we're still in relatively good shape.

"Yes, we've had our problems with the boat, the power, the steering etc but as a team we're still very much a unit and looking forward to the next chapter."

They've also had a boost with New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, phoning them and offering to have the Air Force fly out some supplies!

THE eight-man crew which set out from Geraldton on April 28 in a record attempt, and includes Paignton based Simon Chalk in the 35 foot Aud Eamus (Let us Dare), has already past all but The Bexhill Trust Challenger.

It's not been an easy ride for Aud Eamus though, after a partial capsize in strong winds and heavy seas and having to weather the recent storms.

IN another ocean, South Devon based Mick Dawson of Chudleigh set out from Choshi in Japan on May 10 - with Chris Martin aboard Bojangles.

They plan to become the first to row across the North Pacific, finishing under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, in the USA.

Their first few days were spent rowing into the Kyroshiro current to 'help make miles towards San Francisco but without having to do much rowing.'

Unfortunately, the Kyroshiro has been a little elusive and storms have pushed them away from the current.

This has meant they have had to put in some hard rowing, in between the storms.

Some progress has been made as they are some 800 miles from Japan but still seeking the Kyroshiro current.