RAC student on course for new world record (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

RAC student on course for new world record

8:00am Sunday 10th February 2013 in News By Laura Shack

SKINNY dipping in the Atlantic is just par for the course for an intrepid Royal Agricultural College student who is rowing across the ocean for a world record.

Second year student Peter Fleck is now three weeks into a 2,598 mile fundraising journey across the Atlantic in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

And if that was not tough enough, the 22-year-old and his seven crew mates are attempting to make the crossing from Gran Canaria to Barbados in less than 32 days to break the current open class rowing speed record.

Before he set off, Peter said he expected the challenge to hurt but hoped it would be worth it.

"Sleep deprivation, sea sickness, hunger and salt water sores are all expected. This is a tough ask, however the incentive to set a new Atlantic rowing speed record is huge," he said.

Last week the team came face to face with a seven-metre wave, which reared vertically "out of nowhere" and smashed down on the 45-ft long boat called the Avalon.

But apart from a broken dagger board, which was swiftly replaced, they escaped with minor bruising and have continued to put their best oar forward.

At more than 200 miles ahead of the current record-holders, Peter and his crew mates are on target for success and have even found the time to fend off flying fish, catch squid and enjoy a spot of skinny dipping in the sunshine.

Follow Peter and the crew’s progress at oceanrowevents.com and at yb.tl/jamescowan