Saturday 01, November-2003

The BARBADIAN pair of Phil Als and Randel Valdez have put their initial problems behind them, and are now in sixth spot in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge, as they continue the quest to become the first Barbadians to row across the Atlantic Ocean.
Earlier this week Team Rowing Home was unable to report their position to race organisers due to equipment malfunction, but they have made up plenty of ground, or water, in the last 24 hours.

Saturday 22, November-2003

It was another 24 hours of slow movement for Team Rowing Home yesterday.
The Barbadian pair of Phil Als and Randal Valdez have been pegged back by poor conditions over the last four days of the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge, and the last 24 hours was no different.

With light winds around, the pair could only navigate 41 nautical miles, seven miles less than the previous 24-hour period.

For the past few days, most of the fleet have experienced winds from the South, which have slowed down the fleet considerably. However, the good news is that the wind direction is due to change by the end of yesterday, back to a North East trade wind.

Entrenched in third position, Team Rowing Home is unlikely to make up much ground on race leaders Holiday Shopp and Team CRC, both of New Zealand, and are still set to arrive at the Port St Charles Marina on December 1.

At press time, Team Rowing Home was 763 nautical miles off Barbados, whilst Holiday Shopp was 506 away, and Team CRC 509.

Holiday Shopp had the best day in the water yesterday, completing 47 nautical miles, six better than their countrymen in Team CRC.

In Barbados, Team Rowing Home souvenir and T-shirts are available from Lazy Days stores, and all finances will be donated to the Team Rowing Home fund.

Compliments of the Nation News

- Wednesday 03, December-2003

Philip Als and Randal Valdez never expected their rowing across the Atlantic Ocean as Team Rowing Home would have brought them as much national attention as it did.

They were dead wrong, as the two rowers found out even before they arrived home on Monday evening, greeted by more than a dozen Barbadian vessels as they neared North Point, a few miles off Barbados.

The two were originally scheduled to arrive on Independence Day, but the fact they were about 24 hours late meant nothing to hundreds of proud Barbadians who made their way to Port St Charles Marina, St Peter, where the Woodvale Atlantic Challenge ended 43 days after they left Africa’s west coast.

Als and Valdez were treated to a hero’s welcome, as loud horns, whistles, applause and flashing lightbulbs indicated just how much Barbadians appreciated their record-breaking feat.

Compliments of the Nation News

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