Sally and Sarah made it!
May 5, 2004 22: 10 EST
They've agonized and agonized for 3000 miles, threatening even to go to Venezuela or Florida if needed be, but they would not give up. Well, today, May 5, 2004, at 02:28GMT, the ladies crossed the finish line, unassisted!
After 106 days at sea, the mother and daughter team lost a record and won another. The record lost was the longest time spent crossing the Atlantic, which currently stands at 111 days. Instead, they have become the first mother and daughter crew ever to row an ocean. Sarah have also become the first grandmother to row an ocean.
Only 15 women have rowed an ocean before and 220 men (7 losing their lives in the attempt).
Upon arrival, Sally said: "It is fantastic to be on dry land and to hear the noises of everyday life again. We have had a real adventure and we never once felt frightened or stressed during the journey. I am now looking forward to an indian takeaway and a big bowl of sherry trifle."
Sarah said: "We were so pleased to arrive especially as we were "unassisted" having not asked for any help during the whole voyage. I am thrilled to see my grandson Lincoln again and I'm looking forward to some pineapple chunks all to myself!!"
The boat is scheduled to return to the UK on Friday without Sally and Sarah who will remain in Barbados with their family for a well earned holiday.
Over the last two years, the Challenge has been supported by family, friends, organisations and commercial sponsors who have “Come Aboard”. The major sponsors include The Mayor of Calderdale (after whom the boat was named), Premier Farnell and The Halifax.
The Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Mrs Geraldine Carter, said: “My aim during the mayoral year was to raise Ł50,000 for the Institute of Epileptology of King's College, London for research and teaching. This target has already been exceeded however I believe that the publicity achieved in highlighting the charity has been an equally important aspect of the appeal and has brought epilepsy ‘Out of the Shadows’”
Mother and daughter team Sally and Sarah Kettle have been out rowing the Atlantic ocean for 106 days. Sally's first row was with her boyfriend Marcus Thompson (Tommo). They raised money to highlight the need for research into a cure for epilepsy and as Tommo suffers from the condition.
The couple had to retire from the race after 6 days due to sea sickness which brought on Tommo's first seizure in over 2 years. That's when Sally called on her mom Sarah to replace Tommo:
"When Sally first phoned me from the boat asking if I could take Marcus’s place I couldn’t believe my luck! I packed some baked beans and some rice cakes and caught the ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera the next morning. I organized my home and my husband Steve. He has already employed a friend’s daughter to do the ironing and feed our pets. The ladies I work for as a gardener have been really fantastic and they’ve given me permission to have the time off."
Tommo is back in Brighton readjusting to a life without ocean rowing and the women are the first Mother and Daughter team and only the second all female team to row the Atlantic: We don’t intend to win; in fact we know the only record within our reach would be the longest time spent crossing the Atlantic, which currently stands at 111 days" they said earlier.
Ocean Rowing Society Atlantic Rowing Regatta ORSARR 2004 takes place to celebrate the 35th anniversaries of the first East-West solo ocean row by John Fairfax and first West-East solo ocean row by Tom McClean; and 33rd anniversary of the first Atlantic East-West double row by Geoff and Don Allum.
Sally and Sarah are team pink, Calderdale - The Yorkshire Challenger.
Image of Sally and Sarah, courtesy of the Ocean Rowing Society.
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