A Scottish couple attempting to circumnavigate the UK mainland in a rowing boat say they are "utterly heartbroken" after bad weather forced them to pause their journey. Allan Lipp and Mhairi Ross, from Wick, had hoped to become the first mixed pair to complete the challenge unsupported. They had aimed to cover the 2,302 miles (3,706km) in 60 days.
But 80 days into their venture - and about 226 miles (364 km) from home - they have suspended the attempt due to winds gusting to 60mph. Mr Lipp said they were not abandoning the row completely because they hoped to resume as soon as they possibly could. The couple are to return to work while they decide how they should proceed.
Mr Lipp maintains and steers RNLI Wick lifeboat in his job as a coxwain mechanic. His partner Ms Ross is a paramedic and is also an RNLI volunteer. The couple reached Tobermory on Mull on Scotland's west coast before suspending their attempt. The Met Office has yellow "be aware" warnings for gales and heavy rain in place for western coasts of Scotland, England and Wales. But the couple said conditions for rowing were unlikely to improve for at least another two weeks.
Mr Lipp said: "It has been a very difficult decision to make, but with no break in the weather we have had no choice but to pause the row. To be clear, we are not abandoning our attempt, we are pausing it for now, and will return to complete the challenge as soon as we can. However, it will not be the unsupported attempt that we had hoped for." Ms Ross added: "We are so disappointed, but with the difficult weather conditions that we have already endured, and no sign of any let up in the next two weeks, we have to put safety first and pause the challenge."
In a post on social media, the couple said: "We are utterly heartbroken that the weather has beaten us, after putting everything into this." The challenge has raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
To complete the challenge unsupported they needed carry all their food on board and could not come ashore or even tie up in a harbour. However, they were allowed to seek shelter and drop anchor in bad weather.
Intrepid rowers Allan Lipp and Mhairi Ross have hinted that they may be thwarted by the weather on their unprecedented round-Britain challenge. The Wick couple have reached Tobermory Bay, on the eastern side of the Isle of Mull, but have acknowledged that they need to be realistic about their prospects of completing the journey with rough conditions expected in the coming days.
The after-effects of Hurricane Ernesto have led to a yellow weather warning for rain across most of western Scotland from 9am on Wednesday until 3pm on Thursday, with strong winds forecast. Allan and Mhairi are aiming to become the first mixed pair to complete an unsupported circumnavigation of the British mainland by rowing boat.
On Monday, in a message to their followers on social media, the pair wrote: “At this moment, we are safely anchored in the beautiful Tobermory Bay, carefully assessing our options. We are well sheltered from the winds – but not the rain! Once again, being on a boat is the safest place to be. The long-range forecast is not good, and we need a clear window of opportunity to safely get round Ardnamurchan and up the Sound of Sleat. Looking at the various forecasts, we cannot see such a safe window for the foreseeable, so, for now, we will wait until tomorrow and reassess where we go from here. It is bleak looking out of the hatch right now, much the same as it is looking at the forecasts, and we both feel extremely deflated at the looming prospect that the weather may beat us. To be clear, we have not given up just yet – we’re just being realistic with the look ahead.”
The couple's message highlighted their determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, but also their acknowledgment of the unpredictable nature of the weather. They were realistic about the potential for the weather to disrupt their plans.
A BBC weather report said: “By midweek we are expecting the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto to be influencing our weather… Rain is only part of the story as we are expecting unseasonably windy weather too, gusts to 60 mph, which is a concern for campers and people out on boats.”
Allan and Mhairi set off from Wick on June 1 on a voyage of approximately 2000 nautical miles, called Stormy and Steth: The Long Row Home. Initially they hoped it would take them about 60 days but they are now three weeks beyond that target. In an update in late July they spoke of the “rollercoaster of emotions” they had gone through. They said they’d had to take shelter and drop anchor, and sit out the weather, for more time than they ever imagined but had been boosted by the “phenomenal support” from the public.
Allan (45) and Mhairi (47) have more than 35 years of RNLI seagoing service between them. Allan is a full-time coxswain on Wick lifeboat and Mhairi, a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service, also volunteers as a navigator with the RNLI. By Tuesday morning they had raised almost £42,000 through their JustGiving page, to be divided between the RNLI and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
During the challenge, the couple are not allowed to touch land or accept any provisions. Their seven-metre carbon-fibre vessel Boudicea is stocked with dehydrated food and a desalination unit for drinking water. In a recent Q&A with the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, Allan and Mhairi said: “On a good day there is nowhere better to be than out on the sea. But when times get tough it is actually the thought of everyone that is supporting us that keeps both of us going, as we don’t want to let anyone down.”
The couple's rowing challenge exemplifies their dedication to their chosen cause. They have shown perseverance and determination, navigating through challenging weather conditions and raising funds for worthy organizations. However, the current weather situation has forced them to pause their journey, emphasizing the importance of safety in such demanding ventures. Their resilience and commitment to their mission, though, remain steadfast, and they are poised to resume their journey as soon as conditions permit.
Stormy and Steth: A Long Row Home
This epic rowing journey, "Stormy and Steth: The Long Row Home," is not just about physical endurance and achieving a feat of navigation; it's a testament to human spirit and perseverance. The couple's determination to conquer the challenge, even in the face of formidable weather, is inspiring. They have shown that ambition and a commitment to a cause can drive people to push their limits and overcome obstacles. Their journey has also shed light on the power of community and support, highlighting how their efforts have inspired others to contribute to the causes they hold dear.
The Power of Resilience
The couple's journey demonstrates the power of resilience and their commitment to their goals. They have faced adverse weather, experienced emotional highs and lows, and navigated challenging conditions, but they never lost sight of their vision to complete the circumnavigation. This unwavering determination is an inspiration to us all and a reminder that even when faced with adversity, we can find strength within ourselves to persevere.
