Atlantic rowers Jude Massey (19) and Greg Bailey (28) – The Ocean Brothers, arrive back to a hero’s welcome in their home town of Lymington.
New Forest Cottages are proud sponsors of the Ocean Brothers who have recently rowed unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean. Their aim was to raise £100,000 for the British Skin Foundation to fund vital skin cancer research, in memory of Jude’s father (Greg’s step-father) Pete Massey, who lost his 16-year battle with skin cancer two years ago. Jude is now the youngest person to have rowed any ocean in a pair – verified by Guinness World Records.
They arrived in Port St. Charles after 53 days at sea on Mother’s Day, Sunday 11th March at 5.15pm local time and were met by family and friends including their mother, author Alexandra Massey and Greg’s girlfriend, Francesca Marzullo.
Their mum Alex said, “When I said goodbye to them at the airport in Gran Canaria, I walked away thinking “will I ever see them again?” and to have them back safe is a dream come true! I am incredibly proud of them and their determination to continue through the worst conditions. The best Mother’s Day present a mum could have.”
Whilst at sea they experienced:
- A dramatic capsize at dusk in rough seas, spending 20 minutes in the water before scrambling back on board their boat and lost some equipment.
- Multiple equipment failures: The water maker broke 4 days in so they rowed 2 hours on, 2 hours sleep AND had to hand pump water 5 hours a day to survive which was exhausting. Their GPS auto helm broke so they had to row with one arm and steer with the other almost the entire way which caused them both extreme back pain.
- Rough seas, 25 ft. waves, huge swells, hallucinations, sleep deprivation, exhaustion, being followed by sharks after scraping barnacles off the bottom of the boat, plus both physical and mental pain.
- A leaky boat and a constantly wet cabin.
It wasn’t all bad though – The boys enjoyed shooting stars at night, beautiful skies, close encounters with whales, dolphins, turtles, flying fish and even picked up a stowaway bird (which they named Pete) which stayed with them throughout.
Their challenge attracted support from TV, radio and media, as well as HRH Princess Alexandra (the patron of the British Skin Foundation), Bear Grylls, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Andrew Triggs-Hodge OBE, Sir Ben Ainslie, James Cracknell OBE and Rob Da Bank.
Greg, Jude and their mother arrived in Southampton with their boat courtesy of P&O Cruises flagship Britannia on Good Friday. After a round of TV interviews with BBC, Sky, ITN and Channel 5, they rowed up the river of their home town of Lymington to a hero’s welcome.
Despite biting cold wind and torrential rain, the brothers were met by a large, colourful and very noisy flotilla of boats, including the Yarmouth to Lymington Wightlink ferry decked in flags and hundreds of well-wishers cheering along the shoreline.
Greg said “As we approached the waiting boats, all I could think was how heart-warming it was to feel that Lymington people would want to come out in their boat and accompany us in the flotilla. To see such a massive turnout of people on the shoreside in the pouring rain drew a tear to my eye. To see Lymington come together and see the greater purpose of this community fired up was one of the most appreciated things I’ve ever witnessed.”
Waiting to welcome the brothers on the Harbour Master’s pontoon were Lymington Mayor, Barry Dunning, and Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP. The brothers then headed to The Haven Bar & Restaurant for a reception with sponsors, supporters, friends and family. On entering the room, the building erupted with cheers. Jude said ‘It was absolutely amazing, quite overwhelming actually, I just couldn’t believe how our row had made such an impact on so many people. I wasn’t expecting this but being here today is the best feeling in the world’. Greg added ‘When we walked in and heard the roar of so many familiar and new faces I honestly was buzzing and shocked. It felt electric in there and charged with energy – I could have rowed another ocean with that feeling right there and then!”
Tatiana Rezvaya-Crutchlow from Ocean Rowing Society International presented both brothers with a certificate confirming their row, and Jude with a framed certificate confirming his Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to row any ocean as a pair. The brothers were then presented with a wonderful cake – a replica of the Ocean Brothers boat created by Frances Cawkell of Sticky-Moment Cakes.
On 25th April 2018, Jude and Greg will be talking about their Atlantic adventure to the public at the Balmer Lawn Hotel and Spa, Brockenhurst for the first time during ‘An Evening with the Ocean Brothers’. Advance tickets only are £35 pp and include a drinks reception, canapes, 2 course meal and presentation followed by audience Q&A’s. £10.00 per ticket will go to the British Skin Foundation. To book call 01590 625 776 or email events@blh.co.uk. (overnight B&B and group discounts available).
For more information about the Ocean Brothers visit www.oceanbrothers.co.uk
To make a donation: justgiving.com/fundraising/oceanbrothers