Round Britain rowers

Apr 5 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH rower John Mollison is teaming-up with ex-army mates for a second crack at one of the world’s toughest races.

The Fair City man is more determined than ever to complete the gruelling round-Britain Virgin GB Row 2011 this summer in his 30-foot trimaran Orca.

He was part of a team forced to pull-out of the race last year and admits it’s “unfinished business”.

So he has hooked-up with Dave Hartley, Dave Waterson and Pete Rowlands – military mates from the Commando Joe team which has already raised nearly £300,000 for the Meningitis Trust and BLESMA with a series of ultra extreme challenges.

The 2000-mile race backed by serial adventurer Sir Richard Branson and tagged “the most difficult in the world” by the Anglo American Boat Club organisers, starts and finishes beneath Tower Bridge in London.

John (51), a Falklands War veteran who lost a leg to a mine explosion, said: “The rest of the lads are still serving majors and two of them, Mark and Pete, have experience of successfully completing an Atlantic crossing.

“This is a different sort of challenge but it will stand them in good stead.”

John’s bid to row the Atlantic solo from west to east foundered two years ago when vital on-board navigational kit packed-in off Nova Scotia.

And last year he was part of a team which reluctantly called a halt to their bid to complete the round Britain race.

But now the property landlord has signed-up for another attempt.

“The weather in the British summer can’t possibly be as extreme as you get out in the Atlantic, even if it was dodgy last year. But I know the boat can handle anything thrown at it.

“Out in the ocean you do everything you can to avoid going backwards whereas in this race it sometimes makes sense to lose ground and use the wind and currents to your advantage.

“That might meaning dropping back 10 miles to progress. That can be tough mentally.”

This morning, around 6am, Orca takes to the Tay for a 40-mile row, heralding the start of a training schedule on Loch Tay.

Dave Young of Perth hauliers Morris Young Group has provided the crane required to launch Orca and Kildale Marine in Hull have been very supportive. Loch Tay Highland Lodges are also on board with the row bid.

John, who raised cash for Commando Joe’s tally by completing an exhausting 2008 Mongolian Gobi Desert ultra, noted that his crewmates have played crucial roles in preparing the boat for previous challenges – so they know it inside out.

“They have worked with me all the way through and they were keen to do more rowing to generate funds for our chosen charities. This will probably be the last challenge of this nature.”

There is a cash lure up for grabs if the current record is smashed but John stressed: “That would be a bonus. The first task is to complete the trip.

“We haven’t sought out sponsorship this time but we are hoping support will come in for the charities. And if we do break the 26-day record the £30,000 bounty will be split between the Meningitis Trust and BLESMA.

“We’re already looking forward to the race which starts on June 1.”

To support the cause and donate to the chosen charities, see the commando-joe.co.uk website.