Team Seasoar taking on the Atlantic
The glazing industry is renowned for its charity fundraising, and thanks to groups such as GM Fundraising and Kelly’s Heroes, it has collective raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for worthy causes and completed some truly epic challenges in the process.
However, the challenge currently underway by Team Seasoar, a four-man team – including industry veteran, Sam Weber – that is attempting the World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular and daring to date.
An annual event that involves rowing from La Gomera to Antigua, a journey of around 3,000-miles, the World’s Toughest Row features up 40 teams crossing the Atlantic in specially prepared boats – but as Sam explained when I spoke to him earlier this week via satellite phone, weather conditions have made this year’s expedition one of the most extreme in the 12 seasons it has been running.
Team Seasoar departed a day earlier than planned on the 11th December because of the bad weather, but was battered by 20ft high waves and bad wind and sea conditions.
In Sam’s own words it was ‘brutal’, but the worst was yet to come. First a partial capsize, and then a full capsize on day nine, at 3am and with zero visibility.
Despite two team members overboard and a load of equipment lost – including charts, oars and auto tillers that help to steer the boat – Sam explained that everyone kept calm and the team eventually pulled together to get back on course.
After surviving this early scare, Sam went on to describe the ‘highs’ of the voyage, including whale sightings and incredible sunrises, but adds that he is very much looking forward to getting back on dry land!
Team Seasoar is now over halfway into the challenge and thanks to trade winds and big waves is making 50 or 60 miles a day, which means Sam and his team mates should arrive in Antigua in the second week of February.
For more details on the challenge, which is raising vital funds for Lyme Disease, visit www.teamseasoar.co.uk
