Adventurer James Ketchell begins non-stop row around GB
James Ketchell is rowing, solo, non-stop and unsupported around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for the children's charity, Over The Wall.
James Ketchell, known as Captain Ketch, set off on 25 June to row nearly 2,000 miles around the coast of Great Britain.
He started his journey, which is expected to take two months, from St Katharine Dock in London.
Describing it as “a feat that has not yet been achieved by anyone”, Ketchell aims to raise money for the charity, Over The Wall.
It provides camps for seriously ill children and their families.
Ahead of his clockwise journey around Great Britain, Captain Ketch explained the challenges.
“Circumnavigating Great Britain alone in a rowing boat presents many challenges, mainly the tides which I will be trying to use to my advantage, and the winds which can be very erratic,” he wrote on his blog.
“I will drop an anchor when I need to rest as I cannot touch land at any point during the circumnavigation. I will be fully self supported on the boat, no different to any ocean crossing, I will be eating the same dehydrated food and making water in exactly the same way,” he said.
The 34-year-old from Basingstoke, Hampshire, has now reached Dover.
Ketchell is no stranger to pushing himself to the limits.
On 1 February 2014, Ketchell became the first and only person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, successfully summited Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world.
This feat is even more impressive considering he was left with a broken leg and ankle after a motorcycle accident seven years earlier.
At the time, he was told he was likely to suffer a permanent walking impairment.
In 2015, Ketchell, along with fellow Scouting Ambassador, Ashley Wilson, attempted to row 3,600 miles across the Indian Ocean from Geraldton to Mauritius.
Their aim was to raise awareness of epilepsy among young people as well as supporting other charities.
The expedition ended 200 miles off the coast of Western Australia when Wilson sustained a serious head injury during a storm and needed to be rescued.
A 100,000 ton crude oil tanker, the Dubai Charm came to their aid.
Anyone wanting to support Capt Ketch’s round Britain row challenge can go to the Just Giving website.
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