The Crew

The crew have extensive knowledge and expertise, both in ‘flat water’ river and ocean rowing. Between them, Chris and Mick have a cumulative 325 days at sea in ocean rowing boats. Take a look of photos of the crew members previous experience.

(Click on the photo to learn more about Chris)

Chris Martin started rowing at school in 1993. During the 1995 – 96 season he was undefeated and in 1997 he started his international career as an athlete in the British rowing squad. By 2002 Chris had won 6 medals in consecutive World Championships. 3 years later in 2005 he set out to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands, overcoming broken oars, water desalinator, GPS navigation system and rudder, to arrive in Antigua 68 days - and 3,000 nautical miles - later. He has also taken part in a row from London to Paris in an ocean rowing boat and will compete in the European Surf Boat Championships in 2008.

Chris works as a project manager for a consultancy based in London during the week, as well as being a professional motivational speaker, having spoken on numerous occasions of his adventures to such diverse groups as Westminster School, The Royal Navy, JP Morgan and Fugro NV.

 

(Click on the photo to learn more about Mick)

Mick Dawson is a professional Yacht Captain and a former Royal Marine. Currently the master of a luxury private yacht in Africa, Mick has many years of sea-going experience to his name. He is also the veteran of four ocean rowing projects. He successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2001 with his brother Steve, and then went on to repeat this feat in 2005. Whilst working for the company organising that year’s Atlantic Rowing Race, he rescued one of the participating vessels and two days later, replaced one of the crew, going on to complete his second crossing.

Sandwiched between his two Atlantic crossings have been two solo attempts on the North Pacific Ocean. The first, in 2003, ended when major equipment failure forced a premature return to Japan just two weeks into the trip. The second, in 2004, ended 109 days and 4,500 miles out of Japan, when his boat was capsized and flooded by a freak wave. Undeterred by these setbacks, Mick has overseen the build of a new ocean rowing vessel specifically designed for crossing the North Pacific Ocean “Bojangles”.