'Artemis Investments'

All PRESS & MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO -   camilla@artemisoceanracing.com

Listen to an interview on the  Keith Finnegan Show  PODCAST  

follow  the  link & then click on 21^st Jul (the interview is about 15 mins into the programme) 

http://www.galwaynews.ie/podcasts/Keith-Finnegan-Show

14th JULY 2010  - Team ‘Artemis Investments’  (Leven, Ray, Don &  Livar)  set a new 24-hour speed record  for ocean rowboat on route Atlantic West to East –  118 miles (190 km) (103 n/miles)

  Half-way point reached on July 10th 2010 at 23:20GMT - in 23 days 5 hours 50 minutes

Ocean Rowing Society  announcement  -  On June 29th 2010 Team  ‘Artemis Investments’  (Leven, Ray, Don & Livar) set a new 24-hour speed record  for ocean rowboat on route Atlantic West to East -  117 miles (188 km) (102 nautical miles)  and equalled the 24-hour speed record for ocean rowboat on route Atlantic East to West set by Team  ‘La Mondiale’  on January 3rd 2008

          Photo by kind permission of Neil Osborne, Great Hudson Sailing 17 Jun 10 

           Photo by kind permission of Neil Osborne, Great Hudson Sailing 17 Jun 10 

  Photo by kind permission of Will van Dorp Tugster Wordpress 17 Jun 10 

Photo by kind permission of Will van Dorp Tugster Wordpress 17 Jun 10

THE TEAM OF OCEAN ROWERS IN THE BOAT ARTEMIS INVESTMENTS HAVE BROKEN THE OLDEST RECORDED OCEAN ROWING RECORD

On 17 Jun 2010 four tenacious ocean rowers cast off from Battery Park, Manhattan, New York, all; of the men were experienced making them completely aware that the task ahead of them was formidable.  Leven, Ray, Don & Livar all knew it would to take all they could give and a bit more to achieve this ultimate test of ocean rowing to break the standing record of 55days and 13 hours set in 1896 by Norwegians George Harbo & Frank Samuelsen rowing across the Atlantic from New York to St Mary’s Isles of Scilly – they did this in an open 18 foot skiff.   Many Ocean rowers have tried to better the time set by these two men -  in all these years none have achieved it until now 31 Jul 2010.  

The North Atlantic is most inhospitable, the weather patterns change rapidly and without warning.  Calm waters in a short period of time can be whipped up to a boiling cauldron of mountainous seas and violent cross waves.  During this succesful record attempt by the ‘Artemis Investments’ Team endured two capsizes, several knock downs and numerous swampings, Ray was knocked over the gunwale and later during another storm Livar was catapulted out into the ocean and had to swim back to the boat.  The survival suits stood the test as did the life lines, these were always deployed in rough seas and the boat ‘Artemis Investments’ proved her worth each time she was asked a question. They had to live with wet clothes for weeks on end as unlike the ‘Trade Winds’ route’ the warmth of the sun to dry things out was scarce.  Condensation too was a problem the tiny cabin that became the mens’ sleeping/eating quarters was drenched with condensation, the laptop did not appreciate this any more than the crew and decided to pack up. The Iridium phone continued to function as did the AIS and the VHF.  During the time on the ocean the team recorded a record of rowing 118 miles in a 24 hour period.  Previously this record was held by ‘La Mondiale’ a record of 117 miles was clocked up on the ‘Trade Winds’ route -  three of these crew members were part of that team too. 

The rowers were given a huge boost when a meeting was set up in the middle of the North Atlantic between the Cunard Liner QM2 and the 23 foot rowing boat.  Master Captain Nick Bates of QM2, gave a demonstration of fantastic skills of seamanship by bringing his Liner to stand off the tiny rowing boat.  The sight of the giant Liner emerging out the fog completely awed the four rowers. The QM2 stood off and deployed a tender to circle around ‘Artemis Investments’ while the cameraman took photographs.  The operation of launching and retrieving the tender was carried out with amazing skill and speed.  2400 passengers & crew lined the rails of QM2’s cheering and waving, and the rowers VHF was patched through the Liner’s tannoy system to allow Ray to pass on a message from the boat. This unique meeting mid ocean really buoyed the rowers and they put on a good mileage immediately thereafter.

Adhering strictly to the gruelling routine of two hour shifts of rowing and two hours off to feed and rest, their commitment and toughness overcame the aching bodies, blistered hands, salt sored bottoms and constant cold and wet clothes. They were dedicated to giving their utmost to achieve the record for themselves, their sponsors Artemis Investments and the Charities they support.  The reward for all of the hard graft has culminated in a remarkable achievement for this team Leven, Ray, Don & Livar -  the breaking the 114 year old record set by the two intrepid Norwegians, George Harbo & Frank Samuelsen.

St Mary’s Isles of Scilly gave a warm welcome to the crew on their arrival there on July 31st 2010 at 14:56:48GMT (15:56:48BST) - this had all been meticulously planned by Jim Lyddon.  Bette Horten, George Harbo’s granddaughter closely followed the 'Artemis Investments' four man team all the way across the North Atlantic and she sent a message of congratulations to the men which was read out to the men by Dale Clark, Harbour Master at St Mary's, not only that, minutes later she spoke on the telephone to Leven, Ray, Don & Livar individually - a gesture which will remain a treasured memory for these men.  

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