World Ocean Rowing have selected the following crew for the Atlantic 2010 row.
Matt Craughwell - Skipper
Matt Craughwell is 30 and is from Hertfordshire in England. In January, Matt was part of the 14 man ‘La Mondiale’ crew that aimed to be the first crew to row the Atlantic E-W in less than 30 days - ocean rowing’s 4 minute mile. While preparing the boat for that challenge, Matt’s extensive practical skills made him the logical choice as the boats engineer. When the boat’s rudder detached itself from the boat after 1000 miles, Matt’s practical skills were put to use as he fashioned a temporary rudder from the boat’s daggerboard allowing the boat to continue on its journey for another 24 hours. When the row was ultimately abandoned owing to the eventual failure of the temporary rudder, Matt returned home, gutted, but with the desire to row the Atlantic still burning strong.
Peter Williams - 2nd In Command
Peter Williams is 26 and is from Cork City in Ireland. In January 2009, Peter was also part of the 14 man ‘La Mondiale’ crew who attempted to break the world record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean (E-W). Unfortuately, 1000 miles across, the row had to be abandoned due to losing the boat’s rudder. This was most unfortunate as the crew were 3 days ahead of record pace schedule at the time. Peter has been rowing since he was 15 and has won numerous rowing titles in Ireland as well as representing Ireland in rowing at u-18 level. As well as rowing, Peter has run numerous marathons and ultramarathons. Peter is also the first and only person to have ran around the Republic of Ireland’s largest lake – Lough Corrib.
Mike Jones (Website: www.atlantic5000.com)
Mike Jones, 29, from Cobh, Co. Cork in Ireland, works as the Operations Manager for the University of Limerick Activity Centre. Mike grew up in the historic port town of Cobh and with a fisherman as a father it was inevitable that he would at some stage take to the ocean. Throughout his youth he was a very active member of the local sea scouts where he learned invaluable seamanship skills while at the same time developing a hunger for adventure. Over the past 18 years Mike has been feeding that hunger with, sailing, kayaking and mountaineering adventures all over the world. Mike also participates in triathlons and adventure races and is an active member of the Irish Coast Guard (in the renowned Killaloe unit) - qualified as both a ‘D’ Class and RIB Coxswain.
Pedro Cunha (Website: www.onemillionstrokes.org.uk)
Pedro Cunha is a 28 year old Swede who is currently living in England and studying at Cambridge University. Pedro has been rowing for the past 5 years at Trinity college in Cambridge and did a cross-channel rowing race in 2006. Besides rowing, Pedro has 2.5 years of military experience in the Swedish Armed Forces. Here Pedro trained extensively in survival/endurance techniques including cold weather training, long distance cross country skiing with a sled, ice swimming, emergency survival training and food/sleep deprivation (one time going 8 days without food while marching 210km). Pedro has also completed the DanCon Death March: 100km in 24 hours!! Pedro is therefore well hardened for the impending swells and winds of the Atlantic in January!
Mylène Paquette (Website: www.rameatlantique.com)
Mylène, 30, from Canada was the 1st crew member to sign up to row the Atlantic with us. It is Mylène’s intention to row the Atlantic Ocean solo in 2011 and so she has joined the World Ocean Rowing crew for its inaugural voyage as a ‘warm-up’ for her solo row!! On the weekends, for fun, Mylène does marathon rows across the various lakes of Canada! Mylène is also a member of the Montreal Rowing Club. When she’s not rowing, Mylène works with sick children at the Ste-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montreal - whom she hopes to raise money for by partaking in this row. Mylène is persistent, strong-minded, is a very hard worker and has all the qualities necessary to row an ocean.
James Kenworthy
James is 29 years old and comes from South Godstone, Surrey. He works in London for the clothing company Smart Turnout, after having spent five years in the army. A keen sportsman, James had to give up playing rugby in his early twenties due to spending most Saturday evenings in hospital, but still manages to keep active in skiing and surfing when possible. James is a BSAC and PADI qualified scuba diver and has dived in numerous locations, including Belize, Mexico, Australia and Fiji. By rowing the Atlantic, James is not only fulfilling a personal ambition of some years, but is also delighted in having the opportunity to raise money for his chosen charity, Help For Heroes.