Date: Thursday August 8, 2019 at 2:40pm
Since the
last BFRS update of FORCE ATLANTIC, The British Army’s first official ocean rowing crew, the team
have made great strides towards setting themselves up for success in the 2019
Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. In
April, the fearless four, took to the water for their first taste of rowing on
the open sea. Manning their Rannoch R45
ocean rowing boat for the first time, the crew set about a day’s sustained
rowing in the estuary of the River Crouch and into the South of the North Sea. This initial training was conducted under the
guidance of an experienced ocean rower who works with the boat builder Rannoch,
however no amount of advice could account for the shock of the first impact
with the wind of the open sea! When
rowing against the wind, the 9m long, 1.5m high boat acts as a sail, more than
doubling the effort required to maintain the desired average speed of 3 knots.
However, when rowing with the wind…what a difference a little help makes! As a crew, FORCE ATLANTIC were able to
maintain upwards of 8 knots, which they have been assured is a record for any
ocean rowers on the Crouch!
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Physical
development aside, which will ramp up when the crew take on their boat full
time in July, the team have been required to look inwards. In developing the essential component of
cohesion within the team, FORCE ATLANTIC have made a concerted effort to break
down the barriers of rank and age to speak to each other openly, and as peers. With an age range of +30 years, ranks spanning
from Lieutenant Colonel to Captains and a Private soldier, undertaking the
project will reflect a leadership challenge for the Skipper, Lt Col Rich Hall
MBE YORKS, equal to the prospect of crossing the ocean itself. On the subject, he said, “Figuring out both
individual and team goals has been an important step in this campaign; a team
at cross-purposes lacks cohesion and cracks under pressure. We have been brutally honest with each other,
candid about our personal motivations, and open with our fears and concerns –
speaking always as peers and crewmates. The
result has been unity, and mutual respect.”
Contributing
to the crew ethos, FORCE ATLANTIC have been getting out and about together as
much as possible with several ‘Pop-Up’ rows across Yorkshire. Featuring beauty spots of the largest county
in the UK, the crew have been springing up, meeting the public, spreading word
of their campaign and the opportunities available to everyone and anyone in the
Army. RHS Harlow Carr, Almscliffe Cragg,
Ripley Castle, Newby Hall and Castle Howard to name just a few of the locations
the team have appeared at. They have
even entertained the England football manager Gareth Southgate who was
fascinated with the leadership and team development part of the campaign – keep
an eye on their social media to see if they may ‘pop-up’ near you!
Thankfully,
fundraising efforts have been flourishing lately with the crew enjoying the
most superb support from both those in the Army and many generous private
businesses outside. Last month FORCE ATLANTIC held a fundraising dinner at
their home camp at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate. Attending were some special guests and
sponsors including broadcaster, author and former RAF Prisoner of War John
Nichol, Army Sergeant Major Gavin Patton, author, broadcaster and ex-SAS
soldier Phil Campion, actor Anthony Cotton, local MP Andrew Jones, five-time
ocean rowing world record holder Ian Couch, Invictus Games captain and author
David Wiseman and Soldiers’ Charity Ambassador and wounded serviceman Andy Reid
MBE to name just a few. The event raised
a whopping £12,000 for The Army Benevolent Fund, The Soldiers’ Charity. The team offer a huge thank you to all those
who helped to contribute to a successful evening and continue to support the campaign.
And naturally urge all readers to visit them at www.forceatlantic.com to find out how they to can be involved in following and supporting
their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. #ForceAtlantic.