BMEA

Raymarine ambassador and British adventurer Andrew “Mos” Morris, who was forced to abandon plans to row the North Atlantic because of icebergs, is to complete the final leg of his expedition despite the setback.

The 6ft 2in rower from Newark, Nottinghamshire had originally planned to row 2,200 miles from Newfoundland, Canada all the way into central London, creating a new world record and arriving in the capital in time for the Olympic Games.

Now Morris, 48, determined to complete at least the UK leg of the journey, will row from the west coast of Britain to London, starting in Clevedon, North Somerset on Saturday, July 7 and travel up the Bristol Channel, through inland waterways including the Kennet and Avon canal, and the River Thames.

The state of the art 24 ft ocean rowing boat, Bojangles, is designed and built to withstand the extreme weather and harsh conditions of the ocean.  She is made of a Kevlar Carbon composite foam sandwich material and features pioneering self-righting and safety features and Raymarine instruments. Electronics on board include the Raymarine e7 compact multifunction display and the Raymarine AIS650, which will enable Bojangles to be seen clearly by larger vessels. The Raymarine ST60+ Speed instrument display, with its easy to use push button controls, will give him superior viewing of data day and night.  

Mos’ says: “The Raymarine equipment will give me easy access to reliable, accurate data in a low maintenance system, with the added benefit that it’s all integrated and easy to use.”

The boat will depart from Cleveden on Saturday, July 7 at 05.00hrs. *** Media are invited to meet Andrew Morris at the end of his first day’s rowing, on SATURDAY, JULY 7, AT 12 NOON, by the water’s edge at the mouth of the Bristol Channel, at The Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Road, Bristol BS16. ***

Andrew Morris said today: “My sense of British grit and determination and a refusal to be defeated have convinced me to finish on a high and to honour our pledge to raise funds for the next generation of British rowers and adventurers.”

The trip will raise money to buy a fleet of rowing boats for able-bodied and disabled young people, part of the OAR Legacy, which is aimed at encouraging young people to get out on the water and broaden their horizons. The OAR Legacy fund is being administered by The Rowing Foundation, a registered charity whose purpose is to promote the participation in rowing of young people (those under 18 or still in full-time education) and the disabled of all ages.