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Aft Cabin

Bow of Ocean Challenger

Side of Ocean Challenger

Side of Ocean Challenger

Crew working on boat

George in cabin

Working on deck

Side of Ocean Challenger

Side of Ocean Challenger

Sponsors on boat
Simon adding sponsor logos to boat

Carbon Boat
Basic view showing the structure of the carbon fibre hull.

Crew cast off
Courtesy of Sue Handford (Chocolate Dog Marketing Services)

Ben profile

Boat and crew
Courtesy of Sue Handford (Chocolate Dog Marketing Services)

The crew
Courtesy of Sue Handford (Chocolate Dog Marketing Services)

The crew
Courtesy of Sue Handford (Chocolate Dog Marketing Services)

Crew profile

Guy rowing

River race

Crew rowing

Crew rowing

George profile

Guy profile

Image 6a

Media interest

Media interest

Naming ceremony

Boat blessing

Boat blessing

Media interest

Media interest

Ian profile

Michael profile

Simon profile

Roll test

Roll test

Roll test

Naming ceremony

Naming ceremony

Image 1
The crew sorting their rations.

Oyster Shack in Marina La Gomera
Mike Martin hard at work (22 Nov 07)

Oyster Shack emerges from her container 21 Nov 07

Ben prepares daily ration 22 Nov 07

Oyster Shack arrives in Marina La Gomera 21 Nov 07

George
Note the silver foil over the bow cabin in an attempt to reflect the sun. Sponsors logos to the fore.

Final preparations continue

Final Preparations for Oyster Shack
Morning of 5th December 2007

Oyster Shack make final adjustments
Simon adjust the self-steering gear while Mike and George (right) provide the power.

Oyster Shack now centre of attention

Back to work
The race away, Ben gets works on the equipment.

The start of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007
View from the harbour wall, San Sebastian, La Gomera, noon 2nd December 2007.

Race crews at the start

Oyster Shack bid the race crews Bon Voyage.
Oyster Shacks crew (bottom left) on the Marina wall (2 Dec 07).

Crews line up for the start.
Noon Sunday 2nd December 2007.

Farewells before the Race
Marina La Gomera Sunday 2nd December 2007

Race Day 2 Dec 07
Family and friends say farewell.

Families and friends bid farewell to the Race crews.
Marina, San Sebastian, La Gomera 2nd December 2007

Crews get to know each other
Visiting boats entertain the crews.

Preparing the Race Boats
Race crews busy preparing their boats (24 Nov 07)

Birds eye view of Oyster Shack
There was still much work to do on the boat in La Gomera

Oyster Shack in Marina La Gomera

Race Boats on the water
Two days before the start.

20 Nov 07

Relaxing before the off
From left, Mike, Ben and Andy relax before lunch

Last lunch
The crew take lunch with family and friends in the town square.

George sporting beard

The Atlantic Six
Back row (l to r): Mike Martin, Andy Morris, George Oliver and Ian Couch.
Front (L to r): Simon Chalk and Ben Thackwray.

George says farewell to his mother.

Mike Martin ready for action!

First strokes

Fitting the seat covers
Six sheep skin seat covers were hand sewn at the last minute.

More last minute preparations.

Final adjustments to the oars.

Pulling away from the Marina

The Atlantic beckons.
Just after 2pm on 5th December 2007.

Oyster Shack at sea
Clear of the port 5th December.

Oyster Shack at sea
Riding the waves

Oyster Shack at sea

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger sets off

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger under way

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger leaves La Gomera

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger in open water

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger under tow 6 Dec
Mike Martin shelters from the spray

George Oliver faces the spray 6 Dec
The Atlantic Six stopped rowing on the afternoon of 6 Dec owing to Andy Morris's knee injury and awaited a tow from the Coast Guard based in El Hierro.

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger under tow 6 Dec
The Atlantic Six faced a 25 mile tow to El Hierro at less than 8 knots in a difficult sea.

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger arrives safely in El Hierro

Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger in El Hierro 7 Dec
Taken before the crew started sorting things out while waiting for the trailer to arrive from La Gomera.

En route back to La Gomera
Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger and the Atlantic Six faced a long trip with the trailer from El Hierro via Tenerife to La Gomera 7 Dec 07.

Mike & George 29 Dec 07

Simon plotting the course Day 6

Ian at sunset on Day 6

Buttock sores Day 10

George (2 Jan 08)

Ian & Simon (2 Jan 08)

Simon pulling hard

Ben copes with the waves

Mike & Ben at rest (4 Jan 08)

Mike repairing the rudder (4 Jan 08)

Rudder being manoeuvred back into position

Ben & Mike scrape the hull (5 Jan 08)

Ian & Mike clean the hull (5 Jan 08)

George & Mike underway again (5 Jan 08)

Thirsty work for Ben (6 Jan 08)

Where is that chicken curry?

Ian midway point (11 Jan 08)

Goeorge + GPS and compass. Half way!

Ben recording the halfway point Day 18 (11 Jan 08)

Mike delighted to reach halfway

Ian & Ben set off on the second half (11 Jan 08)

Ian Coping with the swell (14 Jan 08)

George resting in the aft cabin (17 Jan 08)

Sunrise on Day 26

Ian & Ben (19 Jan 08)

Simon & George (19 Jan 08)

George in rowing strip!

Simon & Ian (21 Jan 08)

Mike pumping desalinator

Sunset final eveniong (28 Jan 08)

Simon - final evening

Land Ho! Day 37

6.37nm to English Harbour

George rowing, Ben on lookout

First contact with outside world. 11.00 local 29 Jan 08

Support yacht alongside; 3 dads on board

English Harbout at last! 13.40 local 29 Jan 08

Foot arrangements. Note safety strap

Two Miles out from English Harbour

Ben Thackwray takes a drink. His father, Graham, looks on from the support boat.

MIke Martin relaxes between shifts

George Oliver chats to support team.

Simon Chalk chats to support team

Oyster Shack responds to supporters on the Battery as they enter English Harbour

Oyster Shack pulls in to Nelsons Dockyard.

Congratulations all round before disembarking

Simon sets the champagne flowing

Alex & Cameron Couch are happy to have their Daddy back!

George with Sally

Mike phones his Mum while his father, Keith, looks on.

Ben contemplates a cheeseburger & chips while his Father, Graham, holds the cold drinks

The crew enjoy their cheeseburgers supplied by the Copper & Lumber Store Hotel (in the background).

Simon is congratulated by Amanda Claridge of Woodvale Challenge and Jo Davies from the crew of Unfinished Business

The crew from the left: Ian Couch, George Oliver, Mike Martin, Simon Chalk and Ben Thackwray

Fast to Antigua: Fast across the Atlantic

Reception for the successful crews.
On Thursday 31 Jan the Antiguan Ministry of Tourism gave a reception on Shirley Heights overlooking English Harbour for the Atlantic Six and all the successful crews that had arrived from the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007.

English Harbour from Shirley Heights
The Battery is just above the speedboat entering the harbour. Nelsons Dockyard is the set of buildings that separates the two lower stretches of water. The crews of many of the boats moored in the harbour joined in the welcome by sounding their for horns and joining in the cheering.

Sunset over Monserrat
