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taking to the high seas When the self-styled ‘Atlantic Polo Team’ agreed to compete in the toughest ocean rowing race, they found it challenging in ways they could never have imagined
This page The Atlantic Polo Team celebrate victory in the ‘fours’ Opposite Fergus Scholes (behind), Bobby Melville, Henry Brett and James Glasson
On 21 January, a four-man team made up of a viscount, the former captain of the England polo team, a professional polo player and a former stockbroker beat all odds to win their division of the world’s toughest ocean endurance race: the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. It was a feat that meant spending 48 days at sea, unaided, in a 7m rowing boat. The Atlantic Polo Team set off on 4 December 2013 from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, rowing into the worst weather seen in 100 years, against 16 other teams. They finally crossed the finish line in Antigua after 3,000 nautical miles, coming second overall in the race and winning the ‘fours’. The team raised money for working horses and their owners on behalf of The Brooke charity, as well as for Hilton in the Community Foundation and Right To Play.
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In the Q&A below, the team – Henry Brett, James Glasson, Bobby Melville and Fergus Scholes – discusses training, extreme weather conditions, fevers and their victorious finish. What training did you undertake to prepare for the trip? We worked with Surrey Sports Park and Surrey Human Performance Institute and were given a thorough MOT before we began. Tom Batchelor, who trains the Quins rugby team, also gave us a programme to follow. We had ergometers at home and were instructed to row between 5,000 and 10,000m a day. Then we went on a two-week course with Seasports Southwest, during which we had to pass the Yachtmaster’s qualification and also train in sea survival. Our polo background means we are accustomed to teamwork and pressure, and have a natural
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level of fitness – but there’s nothing that can fully prepare you for the ocean. Describe the build of your boat. It’s made of carbon-fibre and built to spec. It’s only 7m long and 2m wide and consists of just two rowing seats, the bow cabin and the aft cabin. The aft cabin fits one person and the bow two – that was where a pair of us would sleep while the other two rowed. What were the highs and lows of the race? James: One high point was surfing down a 50ft monster of a wave, completely out of control. Ferg was in front of me and fell into my lap because of the force and angle of the boat! As the boat tailed off at the bottom of the wave, we were just grateful we were tied on… Then, three days later, Bobby and I were paired when
