Two men, one boat: Row4PreciousLives premieres at Royal William Yard

Members of the public are invited to the official premiere of ‘Row4PreciousLives’, at Royal William Yard on Saturday (29 March).

‘Row4PreciousLives’ is the stunning custom-built boat that ocean rowers, Elliott Dale and Chris 'Darby' Walters, will use in June when they take on the Precious Lives Atlantic Challenge, rowing the Atlantic from New York to the Isles of Scilly.

The men, who have a combined age of 109, are rowing the Atlantic to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West, but have decided to do it in style by trying to better the current ocean rowing record at the same time. The rowers are aiming to beat the current record of 55 days set by Norwegian fishermen Harbo and Samuelsen in 1896.

To give them the best possible chance of success, ‘Row4PreciousLives’ the Rannoch Ocean Pairs boat, which has been custom made by Rannoch Adventures Ltd, is equipped with the very latest marine technology. This includes built-in solar panels to provide electricity and a satellite communications package to enable Darby and Elliott to send blogs, photos and videos to loved ones back home whilst at sea.

The boat will be premiered on Saturday at Royal William Yard where members of the public can see the boat kitted out in all its glory and meet Chris and Elliott who have just over two months training left before their challenge begins in New York. There will also be an opportunity to find out more about Children’s Hospice South West, Elliott and Darby’s chosen charity.

This is a huge feat for Elliott and Darby who, despite being very experienced rowers, have never taken on a challenge of this enormity before.

Their last rowing achievement was completing the Talisker Whisky Challenge in 2011/2012. Elliott and Darby completed that row as part of a four man team. The Talisker Whisky Challenge was 3000 miles across the Atlantic on the warmer route from the Canary Islands to Barbados. This time there is going to be just the two of them, a 3246 mile row and a very cold North Atlantic Ocean.

It was visiting CHSW’s Little Bridge House in Barnstaple that inspired Elliott and Darby to take on the challenge. Elliott said: “Little Bridge House is a magical place. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

“When we are at a low point we will think back to the families and the children, and what we are enduring is nothing in comparison.”

So if you would like to find out more about the Precious Lives Atlantic Challenge, see the boat and meet the rowers that will be taking on this epic 3246 mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean then go down to the Royal William Yard in Plymouth between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday 29 March and find out more.

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Photo credit: Richard Austin.