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Rower Graham Walters becomes oldest to cross Atlantic solo Atlantic rower Graham Walters breaks three world records
(about 1 hour later)
A 72-year-old man has become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic. A 72-year-old man has broken three world records in his bid to become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic.
Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday.Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday.
Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters, making his fifth Atlantic crossing, had to be towed into port. Not only is he the oldest person to row across the Atlantic, he is the oldest person to row across any ocean and to cross the same ocean multiple times.
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. Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters had to be towed into port.
With just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore.
But the Guinness World Records and the Ocean Rowing Society confirmed he had broken three records after the challenge.
Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean.Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean.
But with just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore. Speaking about being towed into port, he said: "The problem was with the wind. It was taking me past Antigua.
"The problem was with the wind. It was taking me past Antigua," Mr Walters said.
"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.""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. After months at sea, Mr Walters said he had "come back to a different world" in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, it said he had also gained the record for oldest person to cross any ocean several times. "I had never heard of coronavirus before I left," he said.
His journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks. "But I spoke to my wife every week, and slowly and slowly it got more and more serious.
"People are more at risk [at] my age, and I've got asbestos on my lungs, so when I was rowing I thought to myself, 'this is the safest place to be, on the Atlantic'."
Mr Walters' journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks.
He said he might have to wait at least a fortnight to fly back to the UK.
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, 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. He has also been praised for his fundraising work for Help for Heroes.
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.
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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