Kelly set for departure on Atlantic world record bid

ROWING:AODHAN KELLY had a bit of party for family and friends on St Stephen's night in Dublin.

He offered the guests some rehydrated food from a pack. They got a kick out of that.

The basic staple will be the core of Kelly’s diet for the next month or so as he rows across the Atlantic Ocean with the intention of making the crossing in under 30 days, a new world record.

Yesterday Kelly was in good spirits as he flew to Marrakech in North Africa with four of the men who will join him on the row from Tarfaya in Morocco to Port St Charles in Barbados. They were joined by Matt Craughwell, a veteran ocean rower who will lead the six-man crew.

At 26, Kelly is the baby of the crew that flew out of Stansted yesterday morning. Some of his fellow rowers have children and there were emotional partings at the airport. “There were a good few tears going around,” Kelly said yesterday.

Craughwell and Kelly are joined by Ian Rowe, Simon Brown and Mark Beaumont – who turns 29 on Sunday – and Yaacov Mutnikas on the row which they hope to begin on Monday, January 2nd.

The starting day will depend on the weather conditions.

Stormy weather in the mid-Atlantic has seriously affected the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge race, which does not have an Irish crew. Of 17 boats competing, only 12 were still at sea yesterday.

“We are keeping an eye on the weather,” said Kelly. Pete “Stokey” Woodall, something of a legend when it comes to ocean rowing and weather dangers, is monitoring Atlantic conditions for the crew. His advice will be key to “nailing the departure date”, according to Kelly.

Yesterday the six men planned to travel by minibus to Agadir, where they will spend a few days before travelling to Tarfaya. If their departure date is extended beyond Monday, they will most likely stay on their boat, the Sara G.

It will be a chance to “get used to the small environment before we hit the ocean,” said Kelly.