Mike Burton, Tom Salt
OIC - ENTSIMAGES.COM - British pair win the world’s toughest rowing race, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Brits Mike Burton and Tom Salt (Locura Rows the Atlantic) have beaten 15 international teams to win the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the world’s toughest rowing race. They completed the gruelling 3,000 mile race from La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Antigua in 40 days, XX hours and XX minutes. Rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 53-year-old Mike and 30-year-old Tom who make up Team Locura, competed in the arduous race to raise money for the Generous Hearts Foundation. Rower Tom comments on their win: "Mike and I are absolutely ecstatic to have won the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge! We're no strangers to extreme challenges, but this is definitely the hardest thing we've ever done and pushed us to new limits both physically and mentally. We will be celebrating this evening with our friends and family - and the burger we have been dreaming about since day one!” The team have battled 40ft waves, tropical storms, seasickness, sleep deprivation, excruciating body sores, a capsize and even an encounter with a
six-metre marlin which left a small hole in their boat. Mike, from Lincolnshire, met Londoner Tom in 2010 when they competed in the same crew of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race where they finished in fourth place. Tom's also completed seven marathons and Mike regularly skydives. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge saw 16 teams from around the world start the race on the 4th Islands. With two teams airlifted to safety following capsizes and one team rescued by a passing Bulk-carrier ship, only 13 teams remain in the world’s toughest rowing race.14th January, 2014. Photo Stuart Tippleston/OIC 0203 174 1069
