The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is drawing to a close. The challenge consists of a 3,000-nautical-mile unsupported race from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The two man team called Locura Rows the Atlantic are the winners, the Atlantic Polo Team came in second, followed by the Row 2 Recovery team. Sixteen teams from around the world embarked from the Canary Islands on the 4th of December to take on each other and the ocean. The race is now in its 56th day. Britain’s Anna McNuff has completed her 12,000 mile, 7 month cycle through all 50 US states. The solo bike journey from Alaska to Hawaii began on July 1st, 2013 to raise money for the charity Right to Play.
Many of the Polar expeditions that have taken place over the last few months are winding down successfully. After three months and 30,000 km in a Landrover Defender, Felicity Aston, Gisli Jonsso and Manu Palomeque have reached the Pole of Cold, the coldest inhabited place in the world. Antony Jinman successfully reached the South Pole on the 17th of January after skiing for forty-six days and over 730 miles. Mountainbiker Daniel Burton completed his cycle the from the Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and Juan Menendez Granados rounded up his similar expedition over the weekend in which he rotated between cycling and skiing to the Pole. Finally, after forty eight days Lewis Clarke and Carl Alvey have reached 90ºS, making Clarke the youngest person to ever ski the full distance to the South Pole at sixteen years old.
A few expeditions remain in progress. Polish adventurer Aleksander Doba is in the midst of his trans-Atlantic kayak voyage. This is the 67-year-old’s second Atlantic crossing. Doba is a mere 700 miles from his final destination – New Smyrna Beach, Florida – but the bad weather is slowing his progress and pushing him off route. Meanwhile, Vicky Ellis is on track to becoming the fifth amateur female to skipper a crewed yacht around the world. The 40,000 mile Clipper Race 2014. Ellis and the crew of twenty two are currently on route to Singapore, just 18,000 miles to go.
Upcoming expeditions to keep an eye out for are Aga Kreglewska’s summer plans to ride a motorcycle 20,000 km from Co. Kerry, Ireland across 20 countries to Magadan, Russia. At eighteen years of age, William White and a friend are out to make a modern pilgrimage. The team plans to cycle from Somerset to Jerusalem, 14 countries, 2 continents and a distance of 4000 miles. They are raising money for the charity Mary’s Meals.
Written by Orla O’Muiri | Photo © Antony Jinman