Ferry News Archive
Richmond rower set for North Sea ferry race
Date: 06 Nov 2009 00:00 Source: BBC NewsIt’s the age-old battle - man versus machine in the face of nature.
And a former Richmond resident is about to add his own chapter to it. Well, sort of.
Andrew Curry will today lead a team on a monumental mission to row across the North Sea in a direct race with a ferry - but he is doing it from inside the ship.
The team of rowers will be aiming to race from Newcastle to Amsterdam quicker than the DFDS Seaways Cruise's normal 15-and-a-half-hour trip, but they will be safe from the cold and the rain on rowing machines inside the boat.
Two rowing machines have been set up inside the deck hooked up to a screen that will tell the rowers whether they are beating their target.
The ferries travel at about 18 knots (15.5 miles) per hour and in order to keep on course to beat the boat they must remain under 1 minute 51 seconds per 500m at all times.
The 16-strong team will share the burden, racing two at a time in three-minute bursts before resting to get their breath back and rehydrate.
Mr Curry's family come from Richmond but he didn't take to rowing until he moved up north.
The Newcastle University student said: “I went to Hampton School where I was the cox for the rowing teams but never actually rowed as I was a bit small.
“When I moved to Newcastle about a year ago I just decided to start.
“The idea for the trip has been banded about at the boating club for four or five years but nothing was getting done.
“One day my friend and I just decided to knuckle down and organise it.”
He was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of beating the time.
He said: “I think it's going to be exceptionally tough but it's definitely doable."
The rowers are attempting to raise £10,000 in sponsorship towards the running costs of the boat club.
The effort was due to kick off at 5pm today.
To sponsor the team visit nubcracetheferry.webs.com
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