| THE BOAT
The Atlantic Rowing Race is a one-design event. Boats in each of the three categories (singles, doubles and fours) are built to exact specifications set by the race organisers, Woodvale, and the three designs are largely driven by the size of the crew. The four-man boat that the boys will be using is 29 feet long and the construction details are set out below:
Stern Cabin:
This is where most of the ‘living’ will be done. All of the navigational and communications equipment is sited here, together with most of the boys’ personal equipment. As with the rest of the boat, hatches in the deck provide access to vital storage space in the hull of the boat. There is (just) enough room to sleep three people, although even with two in the cabin, personal space will be at a premium. The top of the stern cabin houses three solar panels and two communications aerials.
Rowing Area:
The boat is set up to accommodate two rowers and only in extreme circumstances (usually weather-related) will there be fewer than two on the oars at any one time.
The crew will be taking additional oars as spares, in the event of breakages. Some crews opt to use carbon fibre oars which are light, but have a tendency to break more easily than the ash oars which are being taken aboard Pura Vida.
Storage areas are positioned under the deck, beneath the rowing positions. Perhaps the most vital piece of equipment on the whole boat (other than ipods) is the water-maker, which is positioned in the aft-most storage locker. The race rules also stipulate that each boat must carry 150 litres of bottled drinking water and this is located in front of the water-maker, in one of the central storage areas. The bottled water is for emergency use only, but also serves the dual purpose of providing ballast for the vessel. Not only will this ensure increased stability in open water, but in the event of a capsize, it should help facilitate the self-righting design of the boat. Further storage areas are sited forward and to the sides of the rowing positions.
Forward Cabin:
This area will provide shelter for just one of the team and also contains additional storage space, reached via deck hatches.
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