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Navy puts ocean rowers back in touch
The families of four trans-Atlantic rowers feared missing finally have news their loved ones are safe and well – thanks to the Royal Navy.
The men – rowing from New York to Falmouth – had not been heard of since July 9 when their satellite link failed.
But news that all is well at sea was beamed back yesterday after HMS Mersey discovered the 29ft boat 150 miles off the Scilly Isles. A team of sailors from the Portsmouth-based offshore patrol vessel was sent to check on Royal Engineers Major Pete Rowlands, Captain Mark Waterson, Staff Sergeant Ben Fouracre and Lance Corporal Charlie Martell.
Lieutenant Commander Ian Lynn, HMS Mersey's commanding officer, said: 'Their spirits were rising when we came across them.
'I think they were a bit shocked to see us coming up to them but when we found out their satellite link had failed we were able to send messages back to their shore team and families for them.'
The four are competing in the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race and are one of four teams who left New York on June 10 to row across the Atlantic.
So far in the 2,863-nautical mile journey the rowers have survived force nine winds and been driven backwards by many days of headwinds despite hours spent at the oars.
Lt-Cdr Lynn said: 'Speaking to them, their lows came during the first few weeks when the magnitude of the task became evident and when they were being pushed backwards by winds for days. Their biggest high was being alive after the tropical storm.'
The team have so far raised 140,000 for the Meningitis Trust – chosen because Maj Rowlands' 16-year-old son, Gareth, died of the disease in May 2003.
sue.wade@thenews.co.uk
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
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