Brindleyplace backs fund-raising rowers
Two amateur rowers are gearing up to become the first people from the Midlands ever to cross the Indian Ocean in a seven metre rowing boat.
David Lynes, from Redditch and Steven Redgewell, from Evesham, otherwise known as Team DevOcean, are hoping to cross 3,500 miles of inhospitable sea unscathed when they compete in the first ever race across the Indian Ocean.
The race, part of the series of three races organised by Woodvale which saw James Cracknell and Ben Fogle’s Atlantic cross in 2005, takes place in April 2009 and will see the pair row from the west coast of Australia to Mauritius.
Team DevOcean will have to battle shark invested seas in temperatures of around 30 degrees, rowing one hour on, one hour rest, all day every day – for up to 80 days.
To kick start their fundraising efforts, Team DevOcean held a launch party at Brindleyplace where visitors saw a life size replica of the boat and learned more about their huge challenge.
Website consultant David, 27, said it was his friend Steven, a web developer and seasoned amateur rower, who first had the idea of entering the race.
“I became suspicious that Steve was up to something when he kept quizzing me about my fitness. I finally prized it out of him that he wanted me to enter a rowing race and then he dropped it in later that it was across the Indian Ocean. I immediately said yes as I love a challenge and as I haven’t actually ever rowed in a race before its certainly going to be a big one!
“This will probably be the biggest thing we ever do in our lives. We don’t just plan on taking part in the race, we aim to win it and raise £300,000 for NCH the children’s charity and Baraq Ministries while we do it.”
To find out more, visit the team’s website www.teamdevocean.co.uk.