Simon Chalk and Semen Deyak are leaving Puerto de Mogan, Gran Canaria tomorrow morning (1st March 2015) and are rowing the Atlantic to Barbados!  They have finished all their preparations, packing the boat and rowing practice and are ready to go – the weather is looking good for the next seven days and you can track their progress by clicking here.

Simon Chalk said: “Back to where it all started – heading out as a pair.  A great way to mark row number 10!!  Semen is an accomplished adventurer with his background so we will make a strong team to cross the Atlantic and I’m looking forward to getting going!”

They are feeling fit and refreshed from a few days in port and with their pairs boat, “Sevlush” they are keen to have a great Atlantic row!  We will be following their progress daily…….

Simon Chalk is once again taking the Toby Wallace 8-man ocean rowing boat out for another Atlantic crossing in late January / February 2016.  We are recruiting now for crew – it’s a tough undertaking, the speed record attempts are hard work but can be incredibly rewarding and there will be many highs and lows.  It is a great test of character and having the motivation to do something that tests you physically and mentally would be very advantageous.  Get in touch for an Application Form now!

Toby Wallace Crew Arrival Into Barbados, 3rd January 2015:

Tonight the Toby Wallace crew will be rowing their final night at sea – they are 79nm from the finish in Barbados and have had a superb day with 99nm rowed in the past 24 hours!! This will have been aided by several factors…..they have three packs of Expedition Food left; they will be able to see the lights of Barbados and oh yes, the weather is giving them 20-25 knots behind them all the way in!!

They have already been discussing what their first meal back on land is going to be and are very much looking forward to cold beers all round too.

Meanwhile, Phil McCorry and Dan Renner who arrived into Bridgetown, Barbados on Monday 29 December after 49 days, 9 hours and 4 minutes have been enjoying the beer in Barbados and are returning home to the UK tomorrow….sadly missing the Toby Wallace crew arrival by a few hours!  You can read all about their arrival at their blog at http://atlanticchallenge14.org/after-49-days-3286-28-miles/.

Oceanus Rowing managed to catch up with them today in Barbados and it’s good to see them happy, healthy and looking forward to getting back home.

They had a great trip and got on really well – well done guys, great effort!

More updates tomorrow from the Toby Wallace – at the moment they are due to arrive late tomorrow afternoon Barbados time (which is four hours behind UK time) so watch this space!!

Day 36 is now over at 2200hrs but it’s still Jeremy Webb’s birthday until midnight!  The crew had a little birthday party – which consisted of a Galaxy flapjack bar “birthday cake” and lighting a white handheld flare as a “candle” (!) and then everyone singing ‘Happy Birthday’…..not your average birthday celebration but one to remember!

All the birthday wishes and messages have been passed on to Jez who is very grateful and really appreciated all the thought.  He’s looking forward to celebrating properly when he’s back on land!

The crew are excited to be making landfall at the weekend and along with more favourable conditions, they have rowed 80nm in the past 24 hours which is fab – the best day they’ve had in a fortnight!

And last night, they were awed by lightning storms all around them for six hours whilst they rowed on…..scary but exhilarating apparently!!  Simon reported that only a few of the crew wanted to hide in the cabins – no names mentioned ;)

New Years Eve tomorrow and the crew will be …. ummm .… rowing!  Their thoughts are very much with loved ones and friends though and are all expecting lots of catch-up parties and celebrations when they get back home too.

Well done Toby Wallace crew – not long to go now, 350nm to Barbados!

Certainly a memorable one for the Toby Wallace crew – one they will probably look on fondly next year and in years to come….but unfortunately it has been a hard day rowing in VERY hot conditions and little wind!  They did stop and had a quick swim to mark the occasion and everyone had the chance to ring loved ones at home to wish them ‘Merry Christmas’.  A slow day with 56nm in 24 hours and 678nm to Barbados at the end of Day 31 – but the weather is due to improve at the weekend so fingers crossed!!

The OysterShack crew are all at home with their families and friends – although Matt Inglesby has been missing the rowing today!! This photo was of him in his Santa hat he bought for the row – and of course on a bucket!

Jez, Roland and Stephen wanted to wish all their children a very Merry Christmas today too….not long until they are home and of course, they will have to bring presents to make up for not being there today ;)

The Toby Wallace crew have had a struggle today gaining 66nm in the past 24 hours – everyone is definitely feeling the distance from home over the past few days, particularly with Christmas on the horizon!!  The good news is just over 700nm to Barbados and beer….and flights home!!

They have however had an early Christmas present in the form of about 50 dolphins surrounding the boat as they rowed earlier this evening, all breaking the water around them – John managed to get some good footage on his GoPro!  It’s also been a hot Christmas Eve for them with 40 degrees on deck during the day…..

Thank you for all the messages they’ve received over the past few days – it’s been great for them all to know everyone is watching and willing them on.  Christmas Day news tomorrow! Happy Christmas Eve everyone :)

The Toby Wallace crew have had a tough day with the weather and current against them or taking them in a northerly direction plus 40 degree heat during the day!  However they are putting in the hard work and it’s paying off.  Day 26 is now done and they did 66nm in 24 hours and have 1003nm to go to Barbados…..so will be going under the 1000nm mark shortly!

Thank you for all the messages of support which have been helping the guys particularly during the tough times.

Phil McCorry and Daniel Renner have just under 600nm to go to Barbados and they were spotted by a passing yacht who took these photos of the pair who are looking really well!! You can follow their dot at their tracking page http://atlanticchallenge14.org/tracking/.

The OysterShack crew all arrived back into London Gatwick this afternoon – two still wearing their fetching blue boiler suits from their trip on the Santa Paula bulk carrier.  They’ve all got lots of stories to tell and it’s been an adventure, just not the one they had signed up for!  The best news though is that they are all safe and back home with loved ones for Christmas!!

The Toby Wallace crew have done 73nm today on Day 24 on the water with just over 1100nm to go….a few days and they will be counting down from 1000nm which is a HUGE psychological barrier for the crew too!  Barbados beckons!

From l to r – Christophe Legeais; Kevin Doyle; Matt Inglesby; Paul Williams; Mads Fabricius.

The Toby Wallace crew reached the halfway mark yesterday and had a superb 85nm day too…..all downhill from here!!

In the meantime, the OysterShack crew are on their way home.  We’ve received these photos showing that despite their ordeal, the crew are in good humour.  The photos below show them – in their rather fetching blue boiler suits – with the crew of the Santa Paula, and coming off the vessel yesterday in Macapa, Brazil.  They are due back into London tomorrow afternoon.

And yes they are travelling in their blue boiler suits!! They will be picking up some “I LOVE BRAZIL” t-shirts in the airport we reckon…..

Paul Williams (fourth from L); Christophe Legeais (sixth from L); Mads Fabricius (eighth from L to rear); Matt Inglesby (to L of Mads); Kevin Doyle (to L of Matt).

From l to r:  Matt Inglesby, Kevin Doyle, Mads Fabricius & Christophe Legeais.