Author: chris martin

We are thrilled to announce that Tom Rainey and Lawrence Walters from Team Ocean Valour using their SeaSabre O2 Ocean Row boat built here in Axminster have just broken the 24 hour distance record previously held by a team of 8 rowers.

Between 30th and 31st of May 2015 Team Ocean Valour covered a point to point distance of 112.52 nautical miles (129.49 miles / 208.38 km).  The Ocean Rowing Society who validate and adjudicate all Guinness World Records in the sport have confirmed that this is indeed a new Guinness World Record.

Previously, the fastest three (recorded) 24-hr longest distance records were:

• Toby Wallace , Atlantic E-W 2014 – distance of 192.4km (103.88nm)
• Artemis, Atlantic W-E 2010 – distance of 189.9 km (103 nm)
• La Mondiale, Atlantic E-W 2008 – distance of 189 km (102 nm)

The current record holder “Toby Wallace” had eight rowers so it is a testament to the crew and boat that they were able to break this record by such a significant margin but with only two crew members.

We are thrilled that their SeaSabre boat Yves continues to exceed expectations keeping the crew safe as possible whilst also allowing them to set a new Guinness World Record.  It is equally as good to hear that this was not a one off exceptional distance as the next day the team covered an impressive 94 nautical miles.  We wish them all the best on their journey and look forwards to their arrival in Salcombe which will herald another World Record as the youngest team to complete the route.

In June 2014 the crew of Uniting Nations representing the UK, New Zealand, South Korea and the Netherlands set out with other crews at the start of the Great Pacific Race in their SeaSabre O4 “Danielle“.  The boat had previously won the NOMAN race across the Mediterranean with Olympic Gold Medallist Mark Hunter OBE on board and was reconditioned by SeaSabre before being shipped to Monterey, California.

The four man crew who had not met until one month before the start of the race took part in the race organisers “Pay-per-seat” scheme allowing individuals to come together to form a crew and have the boat, all equipment, boat logistics and race entry fee included for a fee.  This makes it one of the easiest and safest ways to row the Ocean as Race Director Chris Martin describes

Our new Pay-per-seat scheme allows individuals from all around the world to come together, form a crew and enjoy the incredible challenge of rowing an ocean in the easiest way possible.  Safety of crew members is our number one priority and we know that by using a well equipped SeaSabre O4 these crews are in the safest ocean row boat available.  SeaSabre has an enviable record of producing not just safe but also fast ocean row boats that outperform their rivals at every occasion.

Team Uniting Nations were no different and battled through the tough conditions faced by all crews at the start with relative ease.  They led the race the whole way and set a new world’s fastest time of 43 days 5 hours and 30 minutes for the route also taking honours as the first four man team ever to complete the course.

We congratulate Uniting Nations on their performance and can’t wait to see the next pay-per-seat crew take to the oars of “Danielle” for the Great Pacific Race 2016.

The SeaSabre C1 cut through the waves at the annual Exmouth Offshore Regatta last weekend. Despite being the only single on the 8km course the SeaSabre C1 performed perfectly keeping the crew dry despite rough conditions. Sadly now the coastal rowing season is drawing to a close, but we’re planning one final long distance row before the end of the year. If you’re along the south coast then keep your eyes peeled for a bright red sabre cutting through the waves near you soon.

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Photo credit ©Anna Childs

We recently received the picture below from one of our happy customers after a car had crashed into the back of the boat whilst being towed. The towing team stopped to assess the damage but the car that had hit the boat had not stopped, and drove off with it’s wing and door seriously dented and damaged. Thankfully though the construction of the SeaSabre O4 (Ocean 4) was so strong that no damage was sustained and only the anti-foul will need touching up. SeaSabre 1 – Car 0