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Rower hopes for Atlantic crossing record after being towed ashore Rower Graham Walters becomes oldest to cross Atlantic solo
(about 5 hours later)
A man bidding to be the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic may have fallen just short of setting a new record. A 72-year-old man has become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic.
Graham Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, and was rowing from Gran Canaria to Antigua in the Caribbean. Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday.
The 72-year-old, from Thurmaston in Leicestershire, was making his fifth Atlantic crossing, but had to be towed ashore after being buffeted by winds. Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters, making his fifth Atlantic crossing, had to be towed into port.
He said he thinks his record bid "will be OK as far as I know". But official adjudicators the Ocean Rowing Society confirmed him as both the oldest person to cross solo and the oldest to cross any ocean multiple times.
Mr Walters set off from Gran Canaria on 25 January for the 3,000-mile trip, and was attempting to break the world record set by Frenchman Gerard Marie. Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean.
His journey involved traversing rough seas and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks, but ultimately he called for "a little bit of help" after being blown towards the island of Barbuda. But with just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore.
"The problem was with the wind. It was taking me past Antigua," Mr Walters.
"As I was rowing, I knew that I wouldn't have made the island so it was necessary to get a little bit of help."
The Ocean Rowing Society, which works with the Guinness records organisation, said it was satisfied he qualified as having rowed the Atlantic single-handed.
In addition, it said he had also gained the record for oldest person to cross any ocean several times.
His journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks.
Mr Walters, whose daily routine started with a breakfast of sausages, beans and porridge, said: "Dark rowing is fantastic because you are looking at where the sunrise comes up. You have all these colours and contours."
Mr Walters, who may have to wait at least a fortnight to fly back to the UK, said he had learned of the UK's lockdown from his wife during his journey.
After a restorative burger and chips upon landfall, he said it felt "kind of strange" to return to dry land.After a restorative burger and chips upon landfall, he said it felt "kind of strange" to return to dry land.
"The body seems OK, but the legs haven't quite adjusted at the moment," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme."The body seems OK, but the legs haven't quite adjusted at the moment," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.
Mr Walters was praised for his fundraising work for charity Help for Heroes.Mr Walters was praised for his fundraising work for charity Help for Heroes.
David Martin, head of supporter fundraising for the charity, said: "Few of us would attempt such a challenge in the first flush of youth - let alone in our seventies.David Martin, head of supporter fundraising for the charity, said: "Few of us would attempt such a challenge in the first flush of youth - let alone in our seventies.
"Graham is clearly a remarkable and determined man.""Graham is clearly a remarkable and determined man."
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