First Team completes Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge 2013
- January 15, 2014
After over 40 days of rowing, the winning team of the 'Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2013' has landed in Antigua. British team 'Locura Rows the Atlantic', comprising of 30-year-old Tom Salt and 53-year-old Mike Burton, completed the gruelling 3,000 mile race from La Gomera, Canary Islands to Antigua in 41 days, 2 hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds. Rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, Mike and Tom competed to raise money for the Generous Hearts Foundation.
Rower Tom commented on their win: “Mike and I are absolutely ecstatic to have won! We’re no strangers to extreme challenges, but this is definitely the hardest thing we’ve ever done and pushed us to new limits both physically and mentally. We will be celebrating this evening with our friends and family – and the burger we have been dreaming about since day one!” The team battled 40ft waves, tropical storms, seasickness, sleep deprivation, excruciating body sores, a capsize and even an encounter with a six-metre marlin for which they have remnants of, leaving a small hole in their boat. Mike, from Yorkshire met Tom, originally from Chichester, in 2010 when they competed in the same crew of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (Another race that we have tracked) where they finished in fourth place. Tom has also completed seven marathons and Mike regularly skydives so extreme is their middle name.
Mike and Tom have shown great determination since day one and we would like to congratulate them on their phenomenal win. The race isn't over just yet through as there are still ten teams still out at sea. You can follow the reaming teams journey here, or for more information on Mike and Tom's journey, go to their blog.
