Four Yorkshire mums set out on attempt to row the Atlantic

Yorkshire Rows are, left to right, Janette Benaddi, Helen Butters, Francis Davies and Niki Doeg.

The Yorkshire Rows, comprising Janette Benaddi, 51, from Burn in North Yorkshire, Frances Davies, 47, Niki Doeg, 44, and Helen Butters, 45, set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands today, destined for the finish line in Antigua in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

They left at 8.45am local time for what organisers are predicting could be a record breaking race.

“With the winds favourably behind the rowers the race organiser, Carsten Heron Olsen anticipates that this could be the quickest race to date with crossings in as little as thirty days. The race has been delayed by 5 days due to unseasonable winds going in the wrong direction,” a spokeswoman for the race said.

Yorkshire Rows
Pictured the girls in practice going through their paces in La Gomera, Spain
MUST CREDIT BEN DUFFY — Yorkshire Rows Pictured the girls in practice going through their paces in La Gomera, Spain MUST CREDIT BEN DUFFY

“The crews this year have been more driven than ever to win and records are set to be smashed including the fastest crossing time, the oldest female crew crossing and the first all amputee crew to row the Atlantic.

“The world’s toughest row is poised to become the most competitive ocean row and the race is now on to be the first boat to arrive at Antigua,” she added.

The team, who are based in York, said: “We are ordinary working mums and this is about inspiring others. We started rowing only four years ago. It’s a great team sport because if you don’t all row together the boat doesn’t go anywhere and this is so true in life. Working together we can achieve so much and we hope to raise funds our charities Maggie’s and YAA. Frances wants to be able to look back on her life and believe she gave it everything. Niki wants to inspire her children to believe they can achieve anything. Helen is keen to raise lots of funds for our charities. She wants to test herself by going outside her comfort zone. Janette wants to stop and think (get off the train of life) to really live in the moment.”

The team is raising money for the Maggies Cancer Caring Centre and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The teams’ progress is being documented on the official race website www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com while others will be updating their own websites and social media throughout.

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