On Wednesday 30 November 2005, 26 crews of courageous individuals left La Gomera in the Canary Islands to embark on an amazing feat of strength and endurance, to row 2,550nm across the Atlantic Ocean to Antigua in the West Indies in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005.
Competing in purposely designed and built ocean rowing boats against each other and within the Solo, Pairs or Fours classes, the crews competed on a level playing field governed by a set of Event Rules, to be the first to cross the finish line, in the quickest possible time.
Four drama packed months later and the last boat in the fleet, Boat No. 15 Sedna Solo crewed by the only single handed female ocean rower, Roz Savage triumphantly arrived in Antigua on Monday 13 March 2006, to bring this most spectacular event to a close.
Woodvale Events Managing Director, Simon Chalk comments:
"As a spectator, the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 has been a most exciting event and to watch the tactics of each team come into play as the fleet jostle for the front positions has been fascinating.
"The Atlantic Rowing Race is one of the few events in the world where people of all ages, capabilities and sex can compete on equal terms and this is clearly evident in the official race rankings".
With the end of race scrutineering of all the finished boats now complete, any relevant penalties incurred have been applied to race crossing times and Race Organiser, Woodvale Events is now pleased to formally announce that the overall winner of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 is Woodvale Pairs Boat, Boat No. 8 - C² crewed by British men Clint Evans and Chris Andrews.
Chris Andrews from Boat No. 8 C² comments:
"We are delighted to be recorded as the overall winners of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 and it feels great after the three previous races, to be the first British crew to win this event.
"Although with the Rules of the Race, we have been recorded as the overall winning team, we do not what this to detract from the huge achievement of the three crews that crossed the finish line ahead of us".
See full results here; the top four places in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 are allocated as follows:
First - Boat No. 8, C² (Woodvale Pairs) Clint Evans & Chris Andrews (GB)
Second - Boat No. 6, Atlantic 4 (ORS Fours)
George Simpson, David Martin, Glynn Coupland & Neil Wightwick (GB)
Third - Boat No. 24, All Relative (ORS Fours)
Justin Adkin, Martin Adkin, Robert Adkin & James Green (GB)
Fourth - Boat No. 30, Spirit of EDF (Woodvale Pairs)
Ben Fogle & James Cracknell (GB)
The weather conditions in the Atlantic this year have been exceptional, with Hurricane Epsilon, two tropical storms including the latest ever recorded tropical storm in the mid Atlantic route, and three low pressure systems all occurring during the course of the event. Whether a team finished first or last, the achievement is just as great to take on and conquer the mighty Atlantic Ocean!