SUPPORT from those who followed the exploits of the Jersey team who smashed an ocean rowing record has left the crew feeling “utterly blown away”, one of the rowers has said.
After landing in Antigua last Friday and setting a new mark for the oldest female crew to row across any ocean, the Intrepid 232 team have begun their return journeys across the Atlantic – this time by plane.
The four Islanders, who have an average age of 58, completed the race dubbed the World’s Toughest Row after an arduous 58 days at sea, having set off from the Canary Islands in mid-December.
Rosemary Satchwell was the first to leave Antigua yesterday and is due back in Jersey today, while Julie Brady, Helene Monpetit and Alison Smithurst are set to start their homeward journeys from the Caribbean later today.
Speaking to the JEP, Miss Smithurst said it had only been after stepping off their boat Black Squid that the rowers had appreciated the scale of the support from those, particularly in Jersey, who had tracked their progress.
“We didn’t have a great deal of contact when we were out at sea; there were a few problems with the satellite phone and we couldn’t download anything, so most calls were just to our nearest and dearest, and to the race organisers,” she said. “Our social media manager was fantastic in sending screenshots to give us some idea of what people were saying, but we didn’t appreciate the enormity of it.
“Since coming ashore we’ve been thrilled and delighted to see all the comments and congratulations – we’ve been utterly blown away by the interest and support.”
Getting rid of their “sea-legs” and re-adjusting to life on terra firma had been a slow process, Miss Smithurst admitted.
“We were in quite a bit of pain out there, getting tossed around and bashing our ribs and heads against sharp edges,” she said. “It’s still weird being back on land and staggering around like an old woman – I’m hoping I can walk properly by the time I get on the plane.
“It’s been a bit bizarre to be doing live TV interviews when you’re hair is all over the place and you are looking ‘rough as’, and I’m terrified that when we get back we’ll end up boring people rigid by talking about what we’ve done.”
The crew won’t be reunited for a short while, as Mrs Monpetit will be spending time in the UK before heading back to Jersey next week, but once they are home there are plans for some form of reception, which is being organised by the Bailiff’s Chambers.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, sent a letter of congratulations to the crew at the weekend, describing their achievement as a “marvellous team effort” and setting an “excellent example” to other Islanders.
