A 70-year-old grandfather from Oldham, in the UK, just became the oldest man to row across the Atlantic, from the Canary Islands to Antiqua, by himself and without any help in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
Frank Rothwell, an adventurer, father of two and grandfather of three, rowed 3,000 miles in his 24-foot, carbon-fiber, ocean rowing boat, raising more than $950,000 for Alzheimer’s research. His brother-in-law died of Alzheimer’s while Rothwell was underway. Rothwell’s wife, Judith, met him on the dock in Antigua.
Rothwell left the Canaries on Dec. 12, and arrived in Nelson’s Harbor in Antigua on Feb. 6. He said the finish was “a completely euphoric moment.”
During the voyage, Rothwell generally rowed for two hours and rested for two hours, day and night. He slept in the boat’s front cabin, and used the rear cabin for storage. He had a gas stove to heat freeze-dried food, and said he ate a lot of noodles.
On board, he carried a raft, three EPIRBs, a spare set of oars and an electric water maker. Solar panels provided power for the water maker, sat nav, sat phone, and radio.
Rothwell had already sailed around the world on a boat named Upchuck, and he had circumnavigated both North and South America, including voyaging through the Northwest Passage. Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-55970369
