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One Week at Sea and Swell on Course!

The Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger and her crew of 5 have now spent their first week at sea and are well on track to break the longest standing ocean rowing record across the Atlantic Ocean. 

The ‘Off Shore Shackers’ made up of Simon Chalk from Devon, George Oliver from Bristol, Ian Couch from Suffolk, Ben Thackwray from Leeds and Mike Martin from Surrey set out from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on Sunday 23^rd December 2007 destined for the Caribbean. Their goal – to break the longest standing ocean rowing record across the Atlantic Ocean - currently 35 days, 8 hours and 30 minutes - held since 1992 by the 11 strong French team La Mondiale.  

However, the Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger is not the only ocean rowing boat out on the Atlantic at the moment. Also trying to break the record are two other teams who set out on the 15^th December 2007. One is La Mondiale – the same boat that currently holds the record - but this year with a British and Irish crew of 14 headed up by Levan Brown and the other a 4 man American crew rowing a new tri-maran design rowing boat called Orca. 

At 7 days the Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger have covered 478 nautical miles compared to 304 nautical miles by La Mondiale and 135 nautical miles by Orca in the same time period. 

Chris Yandell – Managing Director of The Oyster Shack restaurants at Salcombe and Bigbury, and title sponsor of the Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger – commented; 

‘we are all watching their progress with enthusiasm here at The Oyster Shack and are with them every stroke of the way. This is a monumental record being attempted by a great team with a fantastic boat we have every faith that they will bring home the record.’ 

Amanda Claridge – Woodvale Challenge – commented; 

‘the team are in great spirits after putting in a good week on the oars, having started with a rigorous shift pattern of 3 hours rowing and 2 hours resting for the first few days they  have now settled into a more complicated routine consisting of 12 hours rowing and 12 hours resting in any 24 hour period. This will enable them to get proper rest so they are on top form on the oars. I am proud of what they have already achieved and remain confident in both their ability, and that of the boat, to make landfall in the Caribbean within 35 days.’ 

The race is definitely on and the clock is ticking! The Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger must make landfall in the Caribbean by 20:30 on Sunday 27^th January 2008 to break the record – follow their progress at www.atlanticsix.com and www.atlanticrowingrace2007.co.uk  

- 30th December 2007