News & Events
Vision of Cornwall
16th February 2010
Our two intrepid transatlantic rowers in the Vision of Cornwall are making steady progress in one of the toughest challenges they have ever faced to be first across the pond and raise money for us at the same time.
Phil Pring and Ben ‘Skippy’ Cummings heaved-ho from the Canary Islands on January 4 along with 29 other rowing teams for their gruelling two-month rowing ultra-marathon. You can find out how they are doing by checking their progress on www.atlanticrowingrace09.com/progress
The pair are confident that they will make the podium when the race is over at the end of February in Antigua, West Indies and that they will have raised thousands towards the For Sight Appeal that will help the visually impaired in Cornwall.
“Hopefully, our gig-rowing experience will give us a fighting chance,” said Skippy before the race started. “There’s a river rowing crew from the Thames taking part. We reckon we can beat those London boys.”
Both rowing adventurers are experienced gig rowers who regularly brave the treacherous seas off the Penwith peninsula, but the Atlantic poses fresh challenges for them. Apart from the gruelling distance, their risky ordeal involves crossing major shipping lanes, dealing with weather hazards, and keeping an eye out for sharks and killer whales.
They chose to embark on their perilous journey for the Cornwall Blind Association because Phil has a family member who is blind. “I am very aware of the needs of the visually impaired and how the Cornwall Blind Association can help.”
The boat the ‘Vision of Cornwall’ is decorated in the Cornish colours and has the Cornwall Blind Association logo across it. Inside it has watertight food storage holds, a specialist solar powered water filtration unit and a basic sleeping cabin for the strongmen.
Long distance rowers are known to row naked to prevent the chafing caused by the seasalt, sweat and their clothes. This in turn can cause the additional problems of chafing to the buttocks and hands, with the added burn hazards from bright sunlight. “We expect to lose two stone and come back with blistered behinds,” was Skippy’s prediction.
You can support the team through their Just Giving page.
Truro Sight Centre
01872 261110
