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Press release July 23 - finish [23/07/2010]
Four female rowers have become the first women ever to row around the coast of Britain.
The women who spent 51 days at sea in a tiny boat the length of two minis ended their epic 2,000-mile journey this morning at Tower Bridge in London.
By becoming the first women ever to row around mainland Britain their time of 51 days 16hours 42minutes has been accepted for a Guinness World Record.
Belinda Kirk, 35, from Bristol, Royal Navy nurse Laura Thomasson, 23, from Dover, IT sup-port manager Beverley Ashton, 29, from Wantage, Oxfordshire and Angela Madsen.....
To view the full release please click the download link above.
Seagals press release July 22 [22/07/2010]
ANGLO AMERICAN BOAT CLUB: VIRGIN GB ROW 2010
PRESS RELEASE
Immediate July 22, 2010
An attempt by four female rowers to become the first women ever to row
around Britain has been delayed.
The women who have been at sea for 50 days were expected to complete
their epic 2,000-mile journey today (Thursday, July 22).
But they were not able to battle against strong headwinds in the North Sea
yesterday which meant they missed the tide into the River Thames last night....
To view the full release please click the download link above...
John O'Groats [29/06/2010]
Tuesday June 29, 2010,
FOUR women attempting to become the first female crew ever to row around the
coast of Britain today reached John O’Groats.
After four weeks at sea the plucky women, known as the Seagals, have rowed more
than 1,300miles in their tiny 24 foot-long boat, Go Commando.
Just after 10.30 today a rip tide swept them
at 17miles an hour (correct) passed John O’Groats, the most northerly point on
their incredible journey........
Press Release 14th June [15/06/2010]
Organisers of the first-ever Virgin GB Row race around Britain’s coast, The Anglo-American Boat Club, today announced that the men’s team, The Misfits, have withdrawn their boat Orca from the race.
This means that the all-female crew, The Seagals, who were leading by more than 80 miles, will be the only crew competing for the £15,000 first prize and the Virgin Trophy.......
ALL-FEMALE CREW HAVE ROWED 600 MILES IN JUST 14 DAYS AS MEN DROP OUT OF RACE [15/06/2010]
Virgin GB ROW 2010
‘The hardest rowing race in the world’
Men versus women – in aid of Help For Heroes.
(The rowers goal is to raise £250,000 for the injured servicemen’s charity.)
Some women will do anything to avoid the World Cup!!
Tuesday June 15 2010,
After 14 days at sea an all-female crew, the Seagals, have now rowed 600 miles in their attempt to become the first women ever to row around Britain’s coastline.......
Paraplegic Angela Madsen and Amputee John Mollison to compete in Virgin GB Row [02/06/2010]
The race consists of two teams; The SeaGals, are an all-female crew, which includes a 23-year-old Royal Navy nurse, a film maker, a wheelchair-bound grandmother and an IT support manager, are currently training in the Solent in their 24-foot-long boat, Go Commando.
If the SeaGals, complete the incredible journey they will set a new world record by becoming the first women ever to row non-stop around the UK.
ANGELA MADSEN, The SeaGals navigator, aged 50 from Long Beach California, a paraplegic, she teaches disabled people to row. Angela is a single parent who joined US Marine Corps to help make ends meet.
Medically discharged from the military age 20 after injuring her spine in a basketball accident, playing for the US Marines women’s basketball team.
Thirteen later years later a botched operation on her spine left her as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic.
After two years of being depressed, Angela began surfing again by lying down backwards on the board and later she took up rowing.
In 2007 she successfully rowed across the Atlantic spending 67 days in a tiny boat with a Frenchman who spoke no English and she doesn’t speak French.
The following year she rowed for the USA in the Paraplegic Olympics. And last year she was in a team of four that rowed from Australia across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius.
JOHN MOLLISON, aged 50, from Perth, Scotland is a Property manager and the owner of Orca, the crew’s boat. He is married to Lesley and has two sons, Edward, 20, and Scott, 15
John is a Falklands veteran served with 59 Royal Engineers and was among the liberators of Port Stanley. His right leg was blown off below the knee when he stood on a landmine two days after the Falklands conflict ended. The blast tore apart the muscle on his other calf.
Undaunted, he has undertaken a number of endurance events for charity, including becoming the first amputee to attempt to row the Atlantic from East to West. He had to be rescued after more than three weeks when his communications systems and water maker failed to work.
“Once you get the taste for adventure, there’s no stopping you.” – John Mollison
The crews are not allowed to receive outside help or stop in ports. They will carry all their food for the journey and use a special on-board water maker that turns sea into drinking water.
Virgin GB Row gets off to an Oarsome start... [02/06/2010]
1730 BST Tuesday June 1 2010, Holly Branson, daughter of Virgin Group Chariman, Sir Richard Branson dropped the flag under starters orders and dark grey rain clouds from Tower Bridge, on the river Thames, so two rowing teams – a crew of four men and a team of four women, aged between 23 to 50 – set off to row non-stop, without assistance for 2,010 miles around the treacherous waters of mainland Great Britain to win the Virgin Trophy and up to £45,000 in prizes.
World Rowing Journalist, Melissa Bray, had said this is ‘the hardest rowing race in the world.’
“I think both crews are incredible to take on such an enormous challenge. I want both to win for different reasons. I am supporting the men because my friend Olly is racing but I also want the women to set a new world record. I wish them all the best of luck.” - Holly Branson.
The crews will battle against some of the Britain’s unforgiving tides, the busiest shipping lanes all as enduring Britain’s notoriously unpredictable, inhospitable weather.
The first team to return to Tower Bridge will win £15,000 and claim the Virgin Trophy. The winning team will receive a £30,000 bonus if they break the existing world record. Only one crew has successfully rowed non-stop around Britain. In 2005 they endured Force eight gales with 50-foot waves, narrowly missing being capsized in the North Sea by a freak wave to complete the 2010-mile journey in an incredible 26 days – a world record.
The second boat will collect £6,000 if they complete the course and cross the finishing line on the River Thames in London. If the women’s team, complete the incredible journey they will set a new world record by becoming the first women ever to row non-stop around the UK.
Virgin Group’s chairman, Sir Richard Branson, met the crews aboard HMS Belfast this morning and launched the Virgin Trophy.
Virgin GB Row Race Details [27/05/2010]
Virgin GB Row 2010 - men versus women – in aid of Help For Heroes.
The rowers goal is to raise £250,000 for the injured servicemen’s charity.
Tuesday June 1, two rowing teams – a crew of four men and a team of four women aged 23 to 50 – will set off from Tower Bridge in London to row non-stop, without assistance for 2,010 miles around the treacherous waters of mainland Great Britain to win the Virgin Trophy and up to £45,000 in prizes.
Race Day Itinerary: Tuesday, May 1, 2010.
0700: Boats are launched at Putney
0900: Boats arrive at HMS Belfast, moored on the south bank of the Thames just up from Tower Bridge. (Nearest tube London Bridge)
1000: Sir Richard Branson arrives at HMS Belfast.
PRESS CALL* PRESS CALL* PRESS CALL* PRESS CALL
WITH: Sir Richard Branson
Virgin GB Row Information Sheet [27/05/2010]
Virgin GB ROW 2010
‘The hardest rowing race in the world’
What is it?
Reported as the most difficult rowing race in the world today by World Rowing journalist Melissa Bray, ocean-going rowing boats will race around the UK coastline for the first time – non-stop and unaided, throughout June.
“Can you row 2010 miles in 2010? “
What is the route?
Start - London Tower Bridge, down the Thames then on towards Dover.
South Coast – passing Brighton, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Plymouth.
South West – Round Lands End then up to Wales and Cardigan Bay and on to Anglesey.
North West Scotland – Through the Irish Sea and the Isle Of Man and the Inner Hebrides.
North East – round the Pentland Firth, across the Moray Firth and passed Aberdeen.
East – North Sea passing Newcastle, then Hull and on towards Lowestoft in Norfolk.
Final sprint - Up the Thames to finish at Tower Bridge in London.
When is it?
Starting on 1730 1st June 2010 and running throughout the month, the world record is set at 26 days.
Who is rowing?
Two 4 man boats (the men’s Trimaran ORCA, and the women in GO COMMANDO). The women’s team give the race a new edge. All boats will be fitted-out similar to an Atlantic crossing attempt, with safety paramount at all times. Once the boats leave HMS BELFAST and then Tower Bridge at the start, they will be propelled solely by human power through their rowing blades. An ultra event.
Virgin GB Row Crew Profiles [27/05/2010]
THE WOMEN
Crew Name: The SeaGals
Boat Name: Go Commando – length 24 feet
BELINDA KIRK (Skipper)
Age: 34
From: Bristol.
Job: Expedition organiser and Freelance TV producer.
Education: Redmaids School, Bristol.
ANGELA MADSEN (Navigator and rower)
Age: 50
From: Long Beach California
Job: Teaches disabled people to row
Education: Educated in Xenia, Ohio. Single parent and grandmother who joined US Marine Corps to help make ends meet.
LAURA THOMASSON (Medic and rower)
Age 23
From: Kingsdown, near Dover, Kent
Job: Royal Navy nurse
Education: Dover. Took up rowing at 13 and is a member of Dover rowing club.
BEVERLEY ASHTON (rower)
Age 29. Married
From Wantage, Oxfordshire
Job: IT support manager
Education: St Joseph Swan Comprehensive, Gateshead. UMIST Manchester. Became hooked on rowing at university.
Member of Agecroft Rowing Club, Salford.