Scot plans to row solo from US to Stornoway

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 00:00

A SCOT is planning to become the first person to row solo from New York to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, and says he has not been put off by the dramatic Atlantic rescue of six rowers last week.

Niall Iain Macdonald, who has the backing of Olympic multi gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, said he is still planning to make the attempt to row from New York to Lewis in May.

The rescued rowers – who included record-breaking long-distance cyclist Mark Beaumont, 29, from Perthshire – were plucked from their life raft after capsizing during an attempt to cross the ocean in 30 days from Morocco to Barbados. They are currently on board the cargo boat that rescued them en route back to Europe.

Macdonald, who lives at Stornoway, will take three months to complete the epic 3,400-mile journey across the North Atlantic.

The journey has been dubbed NY2SY, with SY being the abbreviation used by Stornoway-registered fishing boats.

The expedition will raise money for the Scottish Association for Mental Health, a charity that provides expert services and support to people with mental health problems.

Only ten people have successfully rowed solo across the North Atlantic, with most following the South Atlantic route east-west between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.