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25
Jan 2024
Former Ripon Grammar student breaks Atlantic rowing world record
A former Ripon Grammar School student has broken a rowing world record.
Bobbie Mellor, 34, was part of a three-strong female team that rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 40 days, 10 hours and 51 minutes.
The Stray Ferret reported on the World’ Toughest Row challenge when it happened and now team Wavebreakers is the fastest female trio ever to row across the Atlantic.
The previous record, set in 2022, was 42 days, seven hours and 17 minutes.
The team has raised more than £80,000 for the charity WWF’s climate crisis fund and the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR's climate change charities. Their employer, Vodafone, has offered to double donations up to the team’s target of £140,000.
Ms Mellor who began as a novice was skipper, and she and teammates Hatty Carder and Katherine Antrobus finished 10th overall against 38 crews, including professional rowers.
The race began in La Gomera in the Canaries on December 13 and finished in the Caribbean island of Antigua on January 22.
Ms Mellor said:
The team had a rocky start, capsising early in the race and battling sea sickness, sleepless nights and waves of up to 10 feet high.
Bobbie Mellor (centre) and her teammates Hatty Carder and Katherine Antrobus
Bobbie's mother Bridget, from Burton Leonard, said:
Ripon Grammar School director of sport Adam Milner said:
For more information about the fundraiser click here.
Read more:
- Former Ripon Grammar student rows the Atlantic
- How well are Harrogate and Knaresborough’s new leisure centres doing?
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