Courageous team row the Atlantic in aid of Devon Freewheelers

The rowers, who have so far raised £7,537 of their £20,000 fundraising target, said the 50 days at sea had been "awesome and amazing", adding: "we worked seriously hard" to reach the finish.
Force Genesis, as the team was called, was made up of Mark Sealey, of Wiveliscombe in Somerset, grandmother-of-three Gemma Best, from Clevedon in Somerset, Amy Wood, from Salisbury and Will Cogley, of Portishead, near Bristol. They completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – billed as the world’s toughest row – in 50 days, 22 hours and 16 minutes after setting off from San Sebastian in La Gomera on the Canary Islands on December 12.

Devon Freewheelers chief executive Dan Roe-Lavery said the fundraising Atlantic rowers had pulled off “a lifetime achievement” (Image: Tony Carney)

Devon Freewheelers’ chief executive, Dan Roe-Lavery, whose plan to stand at the finish to cheer the team back were thwarted by coronavirus travel restrictions, said: “I am delighted they made it across and they are back on dry land. What a lifetime achievement for each and every one of them.
“We can’t wait to see them when they get home.”
Mr Roe-Lavery said the pandemic had stopped the Devon Freewheelers holding any fundraising activities since early 2020. He thanked those who were coming up with unique ways to help the charity.
He said: “Through the ongoing situation, and lockdown, people are looking at weird and wonderful ways to do their fundraising while maintaining social distancing. We are thankful to everyone fundraising for us in this difficult and challenging time.”

Mark Sealey, one of the Atlantic rowers, said the Devon Freewheelers was a great charity to support (Image: Tony Carney)

The crew chose to fundraise for Devon Freewheelers through a JustGiving page – which is still taking donations – after rower Mark had a chance meeting with a Devon blood biker and learned about the work of the charity.
Before setting off on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, Mark said: “We all thought Devon Freewheelers, the blood bikes, was such a worthy charity.
“They are such a great group. You see the Devon Freewheelers’ bikes on the road. They deliver so much, including blood, surgical equipment and baby milk.
“We wanted to support a smaller charity that is struggling through the pandemic day to day.”

While at sea, Force Genesis were hit with sea sickness, battled boat power issues and experienced auto helm problems, scuppering automatic steering of their vessel.
It was sailing expert and Devon Freewheelers volunteer Brian Saunders who helped the crew solve the steering issues, giving advice to Force Genesis over the satellite phone.
Despite the trials thrown at them while at sea, official race organisers said Force Genesis brought “a lot of motivation and smiles to the challenge”.

After celebrating crossing the finish line at Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, the four rowers said they would “definitely do it again”.
The team said: “The rowing is easy. It’s the rest of it.”
They said being on the Atlantic Ocean away from the modern world had been “fantastic”.
Interviewed by race officials immediately after stepping off the boat, Force Genesis said: “It’s been nice to get away and to be able to focus on one thing, especially during such a negative time.”

While at sea the team, with full kit on board, mainly operated on a two-hour on, two-hour off basis, continuously rowing in pairs.
During the final fortnight of the race, Force Genesis abandoned the plan and adopted what the team called a “more gruelling ad hoc shift pattern”.
The system change included a two-hour steering stint and resulted in just a few hours of rest a day.
The team spent more than a month boat onboard boat Jasmine Ann. The vessel measured around seven metres long, just short of two metres wide, with a small cabin for protection against storms.

You can still donate to the Force Genesis JustGiving page.