THE only thing that is standing in the way of Sean McGowan completing his mammoth solo row of the Atlantic Ocean is 2,500 nautical miles that will challenge his very soul and now a two day delay enforced by the organisers as high winds and a flare shortage that hampers the fleet.

Unabated by such delays, an anxious and nervous, but excited Limerick oarsman was putting in the long hours on the boat at the dockside in Race HQ of the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge as he painted the deck and tended to the list of safety requirements outlined by race organisers.

Speaking to Sean this week as he readied his boat for clearance from the Spanish Port authorities at La Gomera on the Canary Islands, he told Post Sport of his preparation ahead of the race.

"I had to move my liferaft from where I had it originally positioned after one of the safety officers told me what happened to the British Commandos when they positioned their liferaft in the bilge. They were standing on it and walking over it and it went off below decks, and wrecked their race. Today, (Wednesday) I'm moving it. It's a six-man raft which is heavier, but that is in keeping with the boat overall.

"My boat weighs one and a quarter tonnes when it is fully kited up and I think it is the second heaviest boat in the race. The English competitor, Charlie Pitcher, has a boat with a new design, higher air draft and weighs about a quarter of mine. But I want to get to the other side and not necessarily first. The race is secondary to me.

Sean also notes his "solo" tag in the race and while there are several other solo competitors, he feels that he sticks out a bit more.

"Several of the lads have support crews with their documentary teams in their boats. I, on the other hand, am flying solo, literally. But I suppose this project was set up as a solo Atlantic row for me and that is fine.

"The lads are great and I've met the South African, Peter van Kets and Charlie and become good friends. They will have a good head to head battle but they have helped me to prepare with some sound advice."

Supported by his wife and children in La Gomera, Sean says that the next few days will be spent rowing at night around the islands and doing the required passages ahead of the race gun.

He also noted that a number of schools have signed up with the charity support that Sean is rowing for.

Sean is aiming to raise 1 million rand for the Soweto Connection, a charity founded by Sheila Killian and John Lannon, two UL lecturers that spent some time in the area and realised it to be the worthwhile cause that it is.

The Limerick Post and Post Sport are fully supporting Sean and his Challenge and we will bring you up-to-date live feeds from Sean on the boat during the race. We will carry his progress online on the Limerick Post website.

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