After setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 12th 2018 Team Tyne Innovation have finished the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC), “The World’s Toughest Row” in record time, landing in Antigua just before 10pm on January 23rd 2019 after completing the 3000 mile crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 42 days 10 hours and 26 minutes, a new record time for a mixed four.
One of 28 teams entered in the race the crew of Steve Sidaway, Claire Hughes, Alan Huntly and Phil Kite rowed continuously in shifts of 2 hours on followed by 2 hours rest throughout the crossing, breaking the previous record by no less than 14 days.
Since appearing with their boat at Durham Regatta last year two of the original crew members from Tyne Amateur Rowing Club, Dave Higgins and Guy Clack, were forced to withdraw, but their replacements Steve Sidaway and Alan Huntly rose admirably to the challenge.
Team Tyne Innovation at Durham Regatta 2018
“Amazing” replied Claire Hughes in response to being asked how it felt being the first woman home in this year’s race.
Phil Kite only took up rowing 5 years ago at the age of 53, competing for Tyne ARC at local events and regattas for 3 years before giving up his job at Reece Group to concentrate on the Atlantic Challenge. In a blog entry posted shortly before crossing the finish line he wrote “It has been one hell of a journey from the first idea I had to take part in the TWAC. I would like to thank all those who have helped us on that journey, there are so many. So reflecting we wouldn’t have got here without Dave and Guy. Circumstances have meant they didn’t make it to the start but they played a major role in the project and we had a blast. I particularly remember the fund raising regattas we attended, not sure to this day how we got the boat in and out of the water at Durham, and our trips up and down the Tyne.”
You can watch the team’s arrival in Antigua on the Atlantic Campaigns facebook page.
Part 2 LIVE dockside with Team Tyne Innovation in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2018!#twac2018 #3000miles #oceanrowing #talisker #wildspirits #madebythesea #turnthetideonplasticVirgin Atlantic Gill Vestas Digicel Eco For Life Talisker
Posted by Atlantic Campaigns on Wednesday, 23 January 2019
In accepting the challenge the team was aiming to promote North East innovation, looking to market the best innovation from our Universities and businesses and to showcase them to the world. They were supported in their bid by several sponsors.
The team is raising funds for 3 local charities – Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care, the Stroke Association and St. Oswald’s Hospice.
Warmest congratulations to the team on their achievement.
Featured image by Ben Duffy/Atlantic Campaigns.