PETRA ROACH, a senior manager at the Barbados Tourism Authority, receives documentation of the Guiness world record from Kenneth Crutchlow, chairman of the Ocean Rowers Society. --
BARBADOS HAS BEEN HONOURED with a Guinness World Record for having received the most ocean rowers on its shores in January 2008.
The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by the Ocean Rowers Society in London and attended by more than 150 people, including Barbadian Phil Als who rowed the Atlantic with Randel Valdez in 2003.
The world record, to be documented in the Guinness Book Of World Records, was achieved as a result of 101 people having rowed the Atlantic to Barbados, a distance of approximately 2 550 nautical miles.
The first boat comprising a crew of 14, which sailed across the Atlantic in 33 days, 30 hours and seven minutes, arrived in Barbados on January 14 this year.
On receiving the award on behalf of Barbados, Petra Roach, European vice-president of marketing & sales at the Barbados Tourism Authority www.visitbarbados.org, said:
"Rowing the Atlantic is one of the greatest challenges . . . , so I am truly honoured to attend a ceremony where so many of my fellow guests have achieved this amazing feat.
"Barbados is very proud to receive this prestigious award, not only because of our . . . location, but also because Barbados is a destination which is near and dear to the hearts of so many visitors from around the world."
The Atlantic rowing race is one of the most famous ocean events and is largely responsible for the sport's higher profile in recent years.
As such, the human endurance, strength and mental discipline required have led to ocean rowing being described in some quarters as "the new Everest".
It has also been announced that Barbados will be the destination of the 2010 Atlantic Rowing Race, when the island can once again pay homage to the outstanding men and women who take part.
