Wednesday 16th January, 2019-The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority says the country is more than ready to roll out the red carpet to welcome adventurous Atlantic rowers “Team Antigua Island Girls”, when they row into the historic Nelson’s Dockyard.
When Team Island Girls complete their journey, they will enter the record books as the first all-black female team in the world to row across the Atlantic Ocean, completing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
Dubbed the world’s toughest row, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a premier ocean rowing experience that begins in La Gomera in the Canary Islands. On December 122018, the teams, twenty-eight in total, set off on their journey braving the Atlantic Ocean, crossing 3000 miles with over 1.5 million oar strokes and little sleep, to get to their destination in Antigua.
The Team Antigua Island Girls rowers: Elvira Bell, Christal Clashing, Samara Emanuel and Captain Kevinia Francis are expected to arrive later this month, where family, friends and mammoth crowds of well-wishers will gather at Nelson’s Dockyard, to cheer them on as they row in and celebrate the successful end of their journey. Junella King, the alternate and fifth member of Team Antigua Island Girls, will meet her teammates in Antigua.
Tourism Minister Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez said “While this is the third time a team from Antigua and Barbuda has entered the Challenge, we are truly proud that the first all-black female team to row the Atlantic is comprised of four courageous Antiguan women. The entire nation is rooting for our girls and we are really looking forward to welcoming them home and celebrating the strength of women. This is history in the making, and it will truly be a momentous occasion for Antigua and Barbuda.”
Team Antigua Island Girls have identified local charity, Cottage of Hope as one of the main reasons for their row. Cottage of Hope is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 that houses and/or serves girls who have been abused, neglected or orphaned.
The winning team in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge, Dutch Atlantic Four arrived in the dockyard last evening.
One member spoke of their experience in the open Atlantic.
The second placed team in the challenge team Oar-Inspiring arrived this afternoon.
