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Blackpool-based accountancy firm Danbro is sponsoring four yachtswomen on an epic 2,400m (2,100 nautical miles) endurance race.
The Pacific Row Boatylicious team includes Danbro client - management consultant Amanda Challans.
“It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever done but will be worth it,” admits the member of the only female four in a race hailed the “biggest and baddest” rowing challenge in the world.
The 24ft Black Oyster boat has notched up 65 miles a day since Amanda, with no mechanical knowledge and few tools, redesigned the steering mechanism.
The team is just days away from Hawaii since leaving California in June on a mission to raise funds for WaterAid, Hope and Homes for Children and The Ahoy Centre.
Three male crews have crossed the finish line but Boatylicious hope to be the first all-female crew to complete the voyage.
They recently crossed the halfway mark and are currently at 6th place out of 13 teams, and 5th in classic fours.
It’s given the crew – and the Blackpool accountants charting progress - an insight into the issues faced by those with restricted access to safe water supplies.
To produce enough clean water to keep them going the girls need solar panels to power the water purifier for at least 70 minutes a day.
Amanda adds: “More than 748m people worldwide go through life with no access to safe water. Our experience out here means we’re happier than ever to be raising money for WaterAid’s #GirlStrong campaign, which this summer aims to provide clean water and toilets to 5,000 girls.
“Every WaterAid donation made September will be matched by the UK government (Department for International Development) so generosity will have twice the impact.”
The crew has braved being hit in the face by flying fish, escorted by albatross, storm petrels and turtles, and were surprised by a visit by the all-male maintenance support boat after 32 days alone in the massive Pacific.
Amanda adds: “40-60 ft waves come at you like a two storey house at 15 miles an hour. But it’s the tiny hurlers from unexpected directions that swamp the deck and result in hours bailing buckets overboard.”
In addition to Danbro and other sponsors, Boatylicious is being cheered on GB rowing team member Poly Swann, British Olympic rower Greg Searle, TV personality Ben Fogle, and Alistair Humphries, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
Michael Brown, manager of the limited company accounting team at Danbro, concludes: “Amanda is a longstanding client of our’s. The 2,400 mile journey by rowing boat across the Pacific Ocean from California has only ever been completed by five people before – and Amanda and her crew are aiming to be the first all-female team to complete the course.
“We were stunned frankly when Amanda told client accountant Kirsty Cottam what was involved. It’s a heck of a long way. They have done fantastically well.
“Danbro is proud to be sponsoring the team.”
To follow the girls’ progress or support them visit http://www.boatylicious.org or @boatylicious
Factfile:
· Crews are from 10 countries (Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, South
· Korea, Netherlands, UK and USA)
· Average oar strokes taken during the crossing = 1,000,000
· Each crew aims to complete the race without external assistance of any kind, carrying all their own food and a desalinization kit for water
· The race launched from Monterey , California and ends in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands – crews row 2,100 nautical miles / 2,400 statute
· No boat carries engines or sails as they are powered 100 per cent by the muscles of the crew.
www.greatpacificrace.com
