Row4Charity retake lead

Another milestone, another birthday - this week Row4Charity has held the lead in the first-ever Indian Ocean Rowing Race.

Crew member Phil McCorry was 25 on May 19 and midweek also saw Bexhill Trust Challenger hit the momentous half-way mark.

As the new race leaders, boat number 7 gained 50 nautical miles over the next closest boat, Pura Vida, which has a highly experienced women's team.

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Row4Charity followed a more northerly route than those chosen by the others, and is now "cashing in" on the positive winds and weather conditions that only they are currently experiencing. The boat is averaging speeds of 2.5 knots and daily runs of 50 plus nautical miles, while the rest of the fleet, which chose a more direct southerly route, suffer adverse winds and mixed currents.

Team spokesman Geoff Dixon said : "One month into the race and after over 1,500nm of gruellling rowing, the Bexhill Trust Challenger boys are showing just what they are made off. They are being expertly guided by Andy Bristow the teams Weather, Routing and Communications Technical Advisor.

"However, the Indian Ocean is unpredictable and where as the weather conditions on one day can favour teams in the North, the next day it could be all change for the better of the teams in the South."

As the team neared the half-way mark, Andy Bristow commented: "The girls and others in the south have fallen into the trap of rowing into a massive cul de sac where current and wind now turn against them for some time to come. For our boys the prospects are good - another day of good current at least then a cross current that may push them slightly further north (which is fine for the long game) then another patch of favourable current. In the meantime the girls will be stalled unless they find a magic carpet out of their predicament. It is still too early to predict final outcomes and we must not get over-confident (it could all change again before the end) but the signs are at least promising ...

"The second half will fly by - for them and us!

www.row4charity.com

www.indianoceanrowingrace09.com

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