Round-UK rowing race leaders on home stretch

THE leading boat in GBRow 2013, a gruelling 2,000-mile non-stop race around Britain, passed John o’ Groats yesterday, the most northerly point in its crew’s epic journey.

Gavin Sheehan and James Plumley reach Skye Bridge. Picture: onEdition

The Islanders, a four-man crew skippered by Josh Taylor, still has 500 miles to go to the finish at Tower Bridge in London.

Taylor, 24, Alan Morgan, 23, James Plumley, 23 and Gavin Sheehan, 25, are chasing the current world record of 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes – and a £100,000 bounty offered to the first crew to beat that record.

Six crews set off from Tower Bridge in London on 1 June. By by the time the race reached Scotland, only two were left.

During their journey, the Islanders have been hit by storms and rough seas which damaged the boats of three of their rivals. The only other boat to survive what has been dubbed the world’s toughest rowing race, is Savoir Faire, rowed by Josh Tarr and Jason McKinlay, from Salcombe, Devon.

They are currently rowing up the west coast near the Skye Bridge. They are on course to set a new world record for a pair of rowers going around Britain.