GBRow race leaders, the Islanders, are still on track to set a new world record for rowing non-stop aroud Britain.

Tonight Josh Taylor and his crew in the Black Oyster are in home waters off the Essex coast and are on target for reaching the Thames tomorrow morning in time to ride the flood tide all the way to Tower Bridge.

If, as planned they reach Tower Bridge by around 17.00 tomorrow they will knock 12 hours off the current world record of 26days 21 hours 14minutes, which has stood for eight years.

Earlier this afternoon, Janus van Helferton met the Islanders as they passed Felixstowe and took a series of amazing pictures of the Black Oyster and her crew.

Tonight, the were passing Mersea Island near Colchester – home of skipper Josh Taylor and his childhood friend, Alan Morgan.

BLOG from Josh:

RIGHT WHO’S GOING TO BE THERE AT THE FINISH? Currently breaking our balls to get that WR…literally two-hour power sessions then pass out in our cabin. Not changed out of lycra in five days…keep watching the tracker. Can’t wait to see you all there at Tower Bridge. Your support and belief is what’s kept us pushing.

And a good luck message from Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr – 500 miles north in the Moray Firth in second-place Savoir Faire: “We really hope the guys eat that record! They seem to have put in incredible efforts to get back within touching distance. Please pass on our best wishes.”

 

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Quick Links

Recent Posts

  • Survival and Science The World's Toughest Rowing Race
Survival and Science: The World’s Toughest Rowing Race

March 8, 2026|Comments Off on Survival and Science: The World’s Toughest Rowing Race

When endurance athletes discuss the ultimate test of human grit, the conversation often turns to the vast expanses of the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. However, there is a 2,000-mile journey that remains more technically demanding, [...]

  • Ocean rowing boat on the sea
National survey finds microplastic pollution around Britain’s coastline could be double than previously recorded

February 2, 2026|Comments Off on National survey finds microplastic pollution around Britain’s coastline could be double than previously recorded

Microplastic pollution in the seas around Great Britain has been found at significantly higher concentrations than previously recorded by a joint project between the University of Portsmouth and GB Row Challenge. Data collected during the [...]