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Media interest
Media interest
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
