Atlantic Challenge race started

All the rowers waving 'Goodbye' to San Sebastian de La Gomera (Images: atlanticcampaigns.com

The 2017 edition of the transatlantic rowing race known as the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge has started from San Sebastian de La Gomera from 11am this morning after a 48-hour delay due to inclement weather conditions. There are 25 teams, male and female,  beginning to row almost 5.000 kms across the Atlatic to Antigua, hailing from more than a dozen countries, including solo rowers and teams of two, three and four rowers. This year there are two entrants from the Republic of Ireland competing in the race: Single rower Damien Browne ('Gulliver's Travels') and foursome 'Relentless Rowers' from Cork. There's also one team of four called 'Home to Portrush' rowing under the flag of Northern Ireland. For the first time this year's race boasts teams from China, Romania, Switzerland and Spain in the competition. All the entrants raise funds for charities of their choice. To find out more about the teams and to track the race you can go to www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com

May the wind be always at your back. Come on 'ye boys from Cork !

Atlantic Challenge rowing race start delayed by gales

A team of three rowers practising for the Atlantic Challenge off the coast of La Gomera in fine weather recently

The start of the world's toughest rowing race, the 2017 edition of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which was due to have taken place in San Sebastian de La Gomera this morning has been postponed until further notice due to northerly gales, rough seas and big swell. To quote the race organisers:

''Rowing the Atlantic is extremely challenging. It would be wrong to launch a fleet into conditions that are so extreme so early on. In order to give all rowers the best and safest possible start, the race has taken external advice and guidance from numerous sources and put the race start on hold, a decision backed up by the port authorities who would not have allowed the race to start.''

Initially there were 28 entrants for various charities to the race, from solo rowers to teams of four, but three teams had to pull out of the race at the last minute, leaving 25 boats from countries as far afield as the US and China ready to begin the 'toughest row on earth'.

International media are in La Gomera to cover the race start, including the BBC TV and National Geographic, and my guess is that they'll have to wait a couple of days until sea conditions are more favourable for starting the competitive row, as gale force northerly winds are forecast to blow until Wednesday night. This morning the weather station not far from where the race is to begin in the island's capital recorded a gust of 80 km/h at around 6 am, and about and hour later the station on the second highest peak in the centre of La Gomera registered sustained winds speeds of 79 km/h and a gust of 111 km/h.
UPDATE: The race will now start on Thursday, Dec. 14th 2017, from 11am. Read more...

Race headquarters in San Sebastian de La Gomera

Irish record Atlantic crossing from La Gomera

Gavan Hennigan celebrating his arrival in Antigua with the Irish tricolour (Image: irishtimes.com)

Irishman Gavan Hennigan from Galway has done it. He arrived in Antigua in less than 49 days and 12 hours after starting his solo row across the Atlantic from San Sebastian de La Gomera, placing him third overall of the 12 competing boats and first in the solo class. The only two boats to beat his time in the Talisker Atlantic challenge rowing race were manned by teams of four rowers, making his solo effort all the more remarkable. He also smashed all previous Irish records for Atlantic crossings by rowing boats.

“The last seven days have been relentless. At times, I’ve rowed up to 19 hours a day and yesterday when I woke up, I decided it was time to finish this. I’ve rowed for the past 14 hours straight. I gave that my all,'' said the exhausted but happy Gavan, the only Irish rower in the race.

Irishman to start solo row across Atlantic today

Gavan Hennigan aboard his boat 'Doireann' in the harbour of San Sebastian de La Gomera (gavanhennigan.com)

Galway native Gavan Hennigan is one of only four solo rowers in the Talisker Atlantic Challenge race across the Atlantic which is starting from San Sebastian de La Gomera this morning.
The event takes place every year from La Gomera island in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean, and Mr. Hennigan will row in a specially-built Ocean rowing boat for a crossing which could take up to three months to complete.

The voyage is widely considered to be one of the toughest challenges on the planet and to date more people have climbed Everest, reached the North Pole, or ventured into space than have successfully rowed the Atlantic.

He explains why he decided to undertake such an expedition:

“That’s a big question a lot of people ask and I suppose I like the idea of the challenge. I’ve spent a lot of my time in extreme places doing mountaineering in the Himalayas, I’ve been to Antarctica, I’ve done some of the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathons, I’ve also had one of the most dangerous jobs in the world as a commercial diver so I’ve lived this life of extreme adventure and this just looked like the next big challenge for me.

The athlete from Knocknacarra said he is nervous and excited but definitely up for the challenge. “I really like the idea of being out at sea for up to two, three months and being self-sufficient and the challenge of all that and making my own decisions.”

Throughout the crossing Gavan will face raging seas, howling winds, sharks, blisters, salt rashes, sunstroke and sleep deprivation but he said he is strengthened by his resolve to do this and raise monies for four charities; Cancer Care West, Jigsaw, RNLI and Sanctuary. He is hoping to raise in the region of €20,000. Cancer Care West and Jigsaw are both close to his heart and Gavan Hennigan has already raised thousands for Galway charities through other expeditions in extreme conditions.
You can follow his progress and that of the other contestants by clicking RACE TRACKER

Atlantic challenge now annual event

The race headquarters in San Sebastian de La Gomera

The world’s toughest row is back! The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, now an annual race, will start from San Sebastian de La Gomera on the 14th of December 2016, pitting 13 new teams of rowers against one of the most fearsome oceans – in what’s considered the world’s toughest row.

It is an international fleet with seven teams from the UK, three from the United States, one from South Africa, one from Ireland, one from Scotland and one from the Ukraine.  All will be at the mercy of the elements as they undertake one of the most perilous sporting challenges on Earth, rowing the 3,000 nautical miles from La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Antigua in the Caribbean. The short video below gives a taste of how arduous the journey really is:

Rowers finally started for Atlantic crossing

Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

The 2015 edition Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge rowing race started from early this morning. After a delay of several days due to adverse weather conditions the boats have been leaving the harbour of San Sebastian de La Gomera one by one in a staggered start. First off were the two teams of female rowers followed by the solo rower. You can track the boats' progress across the Atlantic to Antigua and get news updates on the official race website: www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com

Start to row across Atlantic postponed

Some of the boats being readied in the marina of
San Sebastian de La Gomera last week

The start of the world's toughest rowing race, the 2015 edition of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which was due to have taken place in San Sebastian de La Gomera today has been postponed until the weekend (see previous post). 

On Sunday an official race farewell party was held when rowers, friends, family and race organisers gathered in La Gomera to celebrate the efforts of the entire 2016 fleet and to wish them well.

There were successful rowers from past races and an announce­ment that the teams had already raised over €1.6m for charity before the race had even begun.

However today race organisers have taken the decision to officially delay the race start due to the strong southerly winds and Atlantic swell. If the rowers had left as planned today it was considered there was a significant risk that their boats would be pushed too far north.

Atlantic rowing challenge 2015

Some of the competitors in the marina of San Sebastian de La Gomera

The countdown to the start of the world's toughest rowing race is on. The 2015 edition of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge will have 26 teams and solo rowers competing unaided for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic. The more than 3000 nautical miles distance will take the teams between 40 to 90 days to row, depending on currents and weather conditions. The teams, including a team of handicapped rowers and two ladies' teams are getting ready on La Gomera and will star their arduous journey from San Sebastian on Tuesday, Dec. 15th 2015, at lunchtime with a large contingent of the international press in attendance. The rowers will head west from San Sebastian in La Gomera to Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour in Antigua and once they leave the safety of the harbour here in their small boats they will be completely on their own.

 

The rules for the race are as follows:

1. Boats can be raced as a solo, pairs or four man team in two different classes: Pure Class and Concept Class, with an overall winner in each of these two classes.

2. No outside assistance is permitted throughout the race. Each team shall carry all necessary food, cooking gas, medical kit, and safety equipment for the entire crossing.

3. Each competitor shall hold a valid RYA Yacht-master Ocean Theory, First Aid at Sea, Sea Survival and a VHF Radio Licence.

4. Each competitor shall have undertaken a qualifying row and qualifying courses before race start. 

5. The boat shall only be propelled by the rowing effort of the crew and the natural action of the wind, waves and currents acting on the boat.

6. Any emergencies, urgent incidents or problem solving must be dealt with in accordance with the Race Crisis Operations Document.

7. All packaging and refuse shall be retained on board until disposal can be arranged at an appropriate location ashore.

8. All drinking water shall by produced using a watermaker from sea water.

The race headquarters and media centre opposite the marina of San Sebastian de La Gomera

Gospel choir comes to La Gomera

In San Sebastian de La Gomera this Friday at 8pm : Gospel choir and band.
No cover charge and all are welcome

Ferry connection viability to be studied

The director of the Canarian ferry company Naviera Armas, Antonio Armas Fernandez, has publicly stated recently that his company will study the economic viability of the so-called 'interior ferry line', connecting the ports of La Gomera's capital San Sebastian, Playa de Santiago and Valle Gran Rey. His company runs ten ferries, connecting all the Canary Islands  and also intends to run a ferry from Fuerteventura to Tarfaya in Morocco soon.The announcement came after his meeting with the Canarian minister for transport and other officials at which various other options for this route were also discussed.

The 'interior ferry line' ceased operations early 2012 despite having been declared an 'obligatory public service' by the Canarian government some years previously and the decision to subsidise resident's tickets further.

The ferry route had been operated by three different companies over the years and attracted 150.000 passengers per year on average before it ceased operating.It is worth remembering that by taking the now sorely missed ferry  it took just about 30 minutes to travel from Valle Gran Rey to the capital San Sebastian, while the public bus needs about 110 minutes to get there. The route by sea would also reduce the amount of traffic that currently has to squeeze through the centre of the national park, and that Valle Gran Rey only has one access road which is very narrow in places and prone to rockfalls.

Let's hope that the outcome of the study will be positive, leadiing to a renewed connection between the southern ports of La Gomera.
Click for latest UPDATE

Study to turn lighthouses into hotels

The harbour authority of the Spanish government which administers lighthouses around the coast is to study the possibility to turn lighthouses in the Canary Islands into small hotels. La Gomera's president has welcomed the 'interesting' initiative. There is a beautiful lighthouse, the Faro San Cristobal, near San Sebastian de La Gomera which would lend itself to conversion. This lighthouse still operates but  like most European lighthouses it now runs automatically and doesn't need keepers anymore. The substantial keepers' quarters, offices and stores would make a nice boutique hotel. In Ireland several lighthouses have already been successfully converted into B+B's and ho(s)tels and recently the Irish government has announced the conversion of another 30 lighthouses. The idea would suit La Gomera and could be successful here as well.

...would make a hotel with spectacular views.

Faro San Cristobal on La Gomera...