105days 16hrs & 28mins
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 has 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).
The 1st Mother & Daughter to Row an OceanUpon 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 £50,000 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.
An extract taken from Sally's onboard diary - Calderdale Calling
“It’s the Pants or Me!”
Atlantic Mum threatens to leave boat if smelly pants don’t go!
These were Mums exact words “Those pants look like dead mans pants. A man who has been dead for more than two days!” I thought that was a bit strong. My 100% cotton ‘Authentic’ M&S boxer shorts (Lg) are so gorgeously soft that, admittedly, I haven’t washed them since we set out! Unfortunately if you wash anything out here it becomes salt encrusted and never dries properly so what’s a girl to do? I have to keep my dignity when sleeping in the cabin with Mum and anyway the £10 M&S gift voucher could only stretch to two pairs and they have to last at least another week!
Mum also told BBC Radio Leeds that I was “a bit stinky and I thought fresh air was a natural cleanser”. Again a bit harsh. It seems Mums nose is becoming very sensitive. I can’t smell anything. Anyway I’m conducting a social experiment. How often can a girl be allowed to fester? If you were out here you’d think 3 washes in 1 month was pretty good going to! One other thing, and I’m happy to receive feedback on this…..does anyone know if gaffer is good for waxing?
So as you can tell Mum is becoming a bit of a handful. She’s recently discovered that there’s more to do on the boat than just row and make her own cups of tea. She became rather despondent when I asked her to deploy the para-anchor. “That’s not on my remit” she said. “Row and make tea only you said. Row and make tea.” I told to get on with it. Honestly you can’t get the crew these days!
One thing that’s sure to pick her spirits up is seeing some wildlife. We’re harbouring some rather lovely ‘Concorde’ fish at the moment. Their skin shines like silver pennies in a wishing well. They are about 1m long with a yellow tail and fins and blue/green bodies. They leap from the water and land with an almighty splosh. Mum saw one leaping kamikaze style right next to the boat. She shouted “Oh that was a rather meaty one. Quick Sal, grad the fishing line!” I gave her a stern look and told her how disgusted I was that she’d thought of such a thing. I retired to the cabin and daydreamed about a succulent freshly grilled tuna steak served with buttersnap peas, steamed broccoli and new potatoes.
We’re becoming rather obsessed with food.
mmmmm….pineapple chunks
mmmmm….curry
mmmmm….sticky ginger cakies