British dragon boat girls row the Atlantic

10 March 2007 - YES, they made it! To start the Chinese New Year of the Rat (which traditionally brings success in your endeavours) on a high note, two members of our Dragon Boat Family completed their row across the Atlantic Ocean on 16 February 2008, in 76 days, 11 hours and 12 minutes and in so doing are also well on the way to their target of USD 200,000 for Breast Cancer Care, with nearly USD 140,000 raised on the high seas.

Rachel Smith and Lin Griesal, two screw loose Brits set off on their epic journey in the first week of December 2007 and whilst here on dry land we were tucking into some festive fare, they were hauling their aching bodies and a heavy boat across the Atlantic and not without mishap either!

The build up story behind their journey was published May’s edition of DBI, when in a pre-trip article Rachel said:" Dragon Boat Racing has been a key factor in the years that Lin and I have been friends. Travelling thousands of miles to training in a small car and being roomies on the big trips, we know each other inside out. We know when to support, when to shut up and when the thing that´s really needed is a hug. With our experience of racing at the highest level we know that we have the mental capacity to deal with the array of emotions that this challenge will bring. From fear to elation, we´ll go through it all. We´ve also got a hundred and one ways to help each other make it all the way, little things that we used in our races. Techniques to calm us, and motivators to drive us on when it really counts. Without the dragon boat racing experience, you’d have to question whether we would even attempt this challenge. But with this behind us, we know that if we dream it, we can do it"

And do it they certainly did rowing a ´Woodvale Pairs´ class boat, designed specifically for the race and measuring just 7 metres (23.4ft) long and 1.9m (6.3ft) wide. In to this small vessel - just over half the length of an IDBF Standard Racing Dragon Boat, they had to pack their entire supply of food for the journey, use a de-salination machine to turn sea-water into drinking water and use the boat’s solar panels to power any electrical equipment that they took on board with them !

Half way looming and their blogg site on 3 January 2008 said "we´re so excited today and have cause to celebrate again. A text message gave us the confirmation that at 09:00 this morning we had rowed 1,286 n/miles from the start and have 1,284 n/miles left to get to the finish. Anyone who knows us through dragon boat racing will know that half way is a very key point for us mentally as we know we can do the other half and every stroke is now on the home stretch - the ´Helping Hands´ sent to us by our dragon boat friends seem to be working. Antigua is looming and our spirits have leapt to new heights"

Having a whale of a time or close encounter of the first kind, as a Whale keeps the Girls company in mid Atlantic but it was not all a tourist trip! Sunday February 9: "Suddenly, Rachel spotted the God Father of all waves building up. ´Watch out´ she shouted to Lin, who whipped round like lightning to close and lock the cabin door as it was slightly open. We didn´t stand a chance, it all happened so quickly the water filled the boat, she tipped up and in a flash we were over."

For the full story and many more visit www.atlanticrowingchallenge.co.uk. And, whilst you are there, why not make a donation to Breast Cancer Awareness too !

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