7 January 2005
Commando Joe takes delivery of boat

The Commando Joe Ocean Fours Atlantic Rowing team passed a significant milestone today when they took delivery of the 29ft boat that they will power across the North Atlantic in June 2006, raising money to further the work of the Meningitis Trust.

Thanks to generous support from all those who have committed to sponsor the team so far, Commando Joe becomes the first team from the 2006 field of entries to be in possession of their craft at this early stage. There are still 17 months to go before the start of the race; the team's intention to win and to break the current Atlantic rowing record will receive a substantial boost by taking delivery so early.

Pete Rowlands, team leader for Commando Joe (Atlantic), said he was delighted to see the boat 'in the flesh' at last. "Raising money for the Meningitis Trust in memory of my 16-year-old son Gareth was always going to be an emotional affair, but seeing the physical evidence of the last twelve months' effort was really something, despite it being in an unfinished condition - it's still to be painted and we've a lot of equipment yet to fit.

"Effectively, it marks the start of the really hard work - training the team members into peak condition and getting to know how the boat performs in the water, in as many different conditions as we can find - the Atlantic's going to throw all sorts at us after we leave the safety of New York Harbour!

"We're determined to win, but there's a lot of work still to do. From now on, we move up a gear,” he says.

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