An English sailor completed the adventurous expedition of crossing the Atlantic in a row-boat to the shores of Saint Lucia within a span of 72 days.
Simon Howes, 68 a native from the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom set out on his solo expedition with the aim of raising funds for his local UK Based charity, The Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust.
According to the retired stockbroker, his initial interest perked when in the company of his wife, they met with a man in his forties, who they were told “had just sailed (across) the Atlantic”.
Howes says, “I thought that was so cool and maybe I should buy his boat and try to do the same thing”. After some negotiations he later purchased the row boat from the individual.
Speaking to reporters during a media briefing, at the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, Thursday, Howes said, he had some brief sailing experiences in his 20s “but I had never rode a boat before in my life , until a few years ago , when I bought the row boat.”
Howes recalled that about a year ago, he had attempted a smaller journey to participate in a race to Antigua but pulled out due to an elbow injury.
According to Howes, “only one person …had ever rowed to Saint Lucia solo and un-assisted and that was 26 years ago”. And it took the Englishman about 115 days, “So, I felt if I can do it in under 115 days, I’ll be the fastest man in history to race to Saint Lucia from Europe.”
All set for the challenge, Howes set off from Gran Canaria, near the west coast of Africa, for the expeditious journey to Saint Lucia.
Recalling the adventure, Howes said, he experienced some whale and shark sightings along the way. But the biggest challenge was battling 40-foot waves and water over five miles deep in places.
At dawn on March 29, after navigating over 3,000 miles he entered the IGY Rodney Bay Marina; to a surprise and hearty welcome from his family that included his wife and children, and in-laws.
Also in attendance to welcome him were officials from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Events Company of Saint Lucia and staffers from the IGY Rodney Bay Marina.
However, the journey was fraught with dangers and according to Howes, there were times that he had to be on alert to avert the dangers of large vessels running into his row boat. But, he says, he was fully equipped with the requisite equipment and at times was able to request the vessels’ captains to exercise caution approaching his craft as it was so small that it would not be easily seen in the vast ocean.
While admitting that he is not “a very sportive kind of guy”, Howes’ relishes this amazing and adventurous experience, but says, it is not something that he will ever attempt again.
There was no interaction with people or places along the way, declared Howes: “I didn’t see a single soul for 72 days and the ships that passed me, I was able to speak to them on the radio, none of them came close enough to see who (they) were talking to …and so I didn’t see anyone for 72 days”.
Added Howes : “ And in some ways it’s quite nice…I haven’t seen the news for 72 days, I haven’t received my emails for 72 days , I haven’t had to take phone calls , except from my wife and family and for that reason it’s actually rather a strange thing.
“But it’s actually rather nice to get away from all the bad news in the world, to what I felt like being really good news about the whole thing.”
Simon’s solo expedition was a self-funded one to support his local UK Based charity, The Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust, because of the “need to create a sanctuary for them”.
So far, Simon has raised a staggering £70,500 for the charity.
The Howes’ are regular visitors to the destination, which they cherish and Simon and his family will remain on island for ten days before they return home.
Rounding off this adventurous journey, Howes asserted: “For me and my family, it’s been a happy experience and to eventually anchor here in Saint Lucia, is the best part of it.”