Alan Morgan, left
GBRow 2013, the world’s toughest rowing race has now reached Scotland, after 13 days of competition
Race leaders, four-man team the Islanders, last night safely made the 12-mile crossing between Ulster and the Mull of Kintyre.
Alan Morgan, from Mersea Island, Essex, told how their tiny 24-foot-long rowing boat, the Black Oyester, encountered a gigantic container ship, the Mirana, in the middle of the North Channel.
As the huge ship loomed out of the darkness, Alan and Josh on the oars, were able to avoid a collision by waiting until the vessel’s towering sides had passed and rowed past her stern.
Alan said: “As we approached the Mull of Kintyre, on Josh’s instruction, we turned just before we hit the tidal races and headed due north, with the wind behind us. We saw a beautiful sunrise and now we are heading up the Mull towards Oban and Tobermoray.”
More than 125 miles south, in the Irish Sea second-place Savoir Faire have made 30 miles since leaving Dun Loaghaire harbour last night.
Josh Tarr and Jason McKinlay could reach Belfast by tonight and be in Scottish waters over the weekend, if the weather holds.
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