Dave "Dinger" Bell on his rowing expedition. (Dave Bell / ATACAMA via SWNS)
A Brit is set to become the first person to row 18,000 miles on a solo, non-stop and unsupported trip across two oceans from South America to Africa.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms2G6 Qs:?86CQ q6==[ dc[ =67E {:>2[ !6CF @? }@G] h 2?5 92D D:?46 4C@DD65 E96 !24:7:4[ ?2G:82E65 E96 r@C2= $62 2?5 %@CC6D $EC2:E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 92D C@F?565 ?@CE96C? pFDEC2=:2 2?5 C@H65 566A :?E@ E96 x?5:2? ~462? H:E9@FE DE@AA:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm}@H E96 7@C>6C #@J2= |2C:?6 :D ;FDE H66<D 2H2J 7C@> 4@>A=6E:?8 E96 `f[d__\>:=6 D@=@ @462? C@H 27E6C DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E92? b__ 52JD 2=@?6 2E D62]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx7 DF446DD7F=[ s2G6 H:== 3C62< E96 4FCC6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_`^`b^E66?\H:?\8F:??6DD\H@C=5\C64@C5\7@C\=2C86DE\;6==J42E\4@==64E:@?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmvF:??6DD (@C=5 #64@C5k^2m 7@C =@?86DE ?@?\DE@A D@=@ @462? C@H[ DFCA2DD:?8 E96 f[`cd 5:C64E >:=6D 249:6G65 3J y24@3 p5@C2> w6?5C:4<D@? 5FC:?8 9:D !24:7:4 4C@DD:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6VD =6DD E92? h__ ?2FE:42= >:=6D 7C@> 4@>A=6E:?8 9:D ;@FC?6J :? z:=:7:[ z6?J2[ H9:49 96 36=:6G6D 96 4@F=5 C6249 :? `a\`f 52JD]k^Am
(Dave Bell / ATACAMA via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6== AC6G:@FD=J DA6?E ``h 52JD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^_f^ag^4C6H\6>32C<D\@?\c\J62C\H@C=5\C64@C5\C@H:?8\6IA65:E:@?\7@C\492C:EJ^QmC@H:?8 D@=@k^2m 7C@> }6H *@C< E@ r@C?H2== :? a_a`[ 27E6C H9:49 96 564=2C65i QxV> ?6G6C 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 52?86C@FD 6G6C 282:?]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu:G6 J62CD =2E6C[ 96 :D 2AAC@249:?8 E96 6?5 @7 2 ;@FC?6J D6G6C2= E:>6D =@?86C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6== D2:5 @?6 @7 E96 92C56DE >@>6?ED 42>6 C:89E 2E E96 G6CJ 368:??:?8[ H96? 9:D A2CE?6C v6@C8:6 7@==@H65 9:> 2H2J 7C@> E96 J249E 4=F3 :? !6CF 7@C 2C@F?5 cd >:?FE6D 367@C6 6G6?EF2==J EFC?:?8 324<]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms2G6[ H9@ =:G6D :? q6C6 #68:D[ s@CD6E[ 2?5 H2D AC6G:@FD=J DE2E:@?65 :? pC3C@2E9[ $4@E=2?5 D2:5i Qx C6>6>36C E96 =2DE E:>6 D96 =@@<65 324< 2E >6 2?5 :E 23D@=FE6=J <:==65 >6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96 7:CDE 76H H66<D H6C6 E6CC:3=6 2?5 x C62==J DECF88=65 H:E9 E96 A@:?E=6DD?6DD @7 :E 2== \ H9J 2> x 5@:?8 E9:D 2?5 H9J 2> x 5@:?8 E9:D E@ 3@E9 @7 FDnk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ(6VG6 3@E9 DECF88=65 H:E9 E96 D6A2C2E:@?[ 3FE H96? xV> >2<:?8 8@@5 AC@8C6DD x <?@H 6G6CJ >:=6 :D 86EE:?8 >6 4=@D6C E@ D66:?8 96C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ(6VC6 E9C@F89 E96 H@CDE @7 :E ?@H 2?5 H6VC6 3@E9 86EE:?8 G6CJ 6I4:E65 23@FE D66:?8 6249 @E96C 282:?]Qk^Am
(Dave Bell / ATACAMA via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 E@F896DE D64E:@?[ 96 D2:5[ 42>6 :? E96 r@C2= $62[ 27E6C 2 C@FE6 42C67F==J A=2??65 2C@F?5 EH@ 4J4=@?6 D62D@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6== D2:5i Q%96 r@C2= $62 <:4<65 >J 2DD] x E@@< 2 <?@4<5@H? H9:49 3C@F89E H2E6C :?E@ E96 3@2E[ E96 6=64EC:4D H6C6 52>2865[ x H2D 4@G6C65 :? D2=E D@C6D 2?5 6?565 FA @? 2?E:3:@E:4D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96? x H2D 8@:?8 :?E@ E9:D :?4C65:3=J E:52= 2C62 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^_f^ag^4C6H\6>32C<D\@?\c\J62C\H@C=5\C64@C5\C@H:?8\6IA65:E:@?\7@C\492C:EJ^QmC@H:?8k^2m 7@C `e 9@FCD 2E 2 E:>6] qJ E96 6?5 @7 :E x H2D 6>@E:@?2==J 7C:65 2?5 A9JD:42==J 3C@<6?]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw:D A2DD286 E9C@F89 E96 %@CC6D $EC2:E 36EH66? pFDEC2=:2 2?5 !2AF2 }6H vF:?62 H2D @?6 @7 E96 =62DE AC65:4E23=6 D64E:@?D @7 E96 6IA65:E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~?6 @7 q6==VD 36DE >@>6?ED @7 >@C6 E92? `_ >@?E9D 2E D62 42>6 H96?[ 27E6C 7:?2==J 86EE:?8 E9C@F89[ 96 5C@AA65 2 8C@F?5 2?49@C 2?5 76=E :E 9@=5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96 D6?D6 @7 C6=:67 H2D 6?@C>@FD[Q 96 4@?E:?F65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQx <?6H x H2D D64FC6 2?5 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? 2 =@?8 E:>6 x 4@F=5 DH:E49 >J >:?5 @77 2?5 AC@A6C=J C6DE]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ(6 4@F=5 A=2? 7@C E96 !24:7:4[ E96 ?@CE9 4@2DE @7 pFDEC2=:2 2?5 E96 x?5:2? ~462?[ 3FE E96 %@CC6D $EC2:E H2D 6?E:C6=J H62E96C\56A6?56?E] *@F 42?VE 49@@D6 E96 H62E96C] v6EE:?8 E9C@F89 2?5 <?@H:?8 x H2D D276 H2D 2 >2DD:G6 >@>6?E]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6== D6CG65 7@C a_ J62CD :? E96 #@J2= |2C:?6D[ 2?5 9:D >:=:E2CJ 324<8C@F?5 92D 366? 46?EC2= E@ DFCG:G:?8 E96 6IA65:E:@?]k^Am
(Dave Bell / ATACAMA via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 6I\|2C:?6[ H9@ 92D 925 ?@ DFAA@CE 3@2E 2?5 ?@ @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C6A=246 DFAA=:6D[ D2:5ik^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96 EC2:?:?8 J@F 5@ :? E96 |2C:?6D :D 56D:8?65 E@ AFD9 J@F E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 J@F E9:?< J@F 42?VE 8@ @?] xE E62496D J@F E96C6 :D ?@C>2==J >@C6 =67E :? E96 E2?< E92? J@F E9:?<]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQx? E96 |2C:?6D J@FVC6 2=D@ FD65 E@ 36:?8 D6=7\DF77:4:6?E 2?5 >2?28:?8 H:E9 H92EVD @? J@FC 324<] w6C6[ x >2?286 H:E9 H92EVD @? E96 3@2E] (96? D@>6E9:?8 3C62<D[ J@F 6:E96C C6A2:C :E @C H@C< @FE 9@H E@ >2?286 H:E9@FE :E]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 6IA65:E:@? :D DFAA@CE65 3J qC:E:D9 A6C7@C>2?46 4=@E9:?8 3C2?5 pE242>2[ H9@D6 <:E q6== 92D H@C? E9C@F89@FE E96 4C@DD:?8 E9C@F89 >@?E9D @7 :?E6?D6 DF?[ 962E[ D2=EH2E6C 2?5 492?8:?8 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE242>2 92D AC6G:@FD=J H@C<65 H:E9 E96 |24=62? 3C@E96CD @? E96:C H@C=5 C64@C5\3C62<:?8 !24:7:4 C@H]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 D2:5i QxV> 8=25 E96J 96=A65 >6 E2<6 42C6 @7 >J 4=@E9:?8 2D E92EVD 366? @?6 =6DD E9:?8 E@ H@CCJ 23@FEPk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQp7E6C D66:?8 E96 |24=62?D H62C:?8 pE242>2 E96 H9@=6 H2J @? E96:C 4C@DD:?8[ x <?6H x 4@F=5?VE 8@ 72C HC@?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQxVG6 24EF2==J A24<65 E@@ >F49] xEVD AC@323=J E96 >:=:E2CJ H2J x =@@< 2E E9:?8D 2?5 A=2? 2C@F?5 E96 H@CDE\42D6 D46?2C:@] x 6IA64E65 E96 C@H E@ =2DE =@?86C 2?5 AC@323=J 5:5?VE 25;FDE 6?@F89 2D :E H6?E @?] %96C6 2C6 H@CD6 AC@3=6>D E@ 92G6]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm(9:=6 q6== :D 2=@?6 @? E96 3@2E[ 96 :?D:DED E96 6IA65:E:@? 92D 366? 2 E62> 677@CE[ 4C65:E:?8 H62E96C C@FE6C $:>@? #@H6==[ 3@2E3F:=56C |2C< $=2ED[ >65:2 q2CCJ w2J6D[ 2?5 A2CE:4F=2C=J v6@C8:6]k^Am
(Dave Bell / ATACAMA via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6== 4@?E:?F65i QxV> E96 @?6 :? E96 DA@E=:89E 2?5 xV== 86E E96 244@=256D[ 3FE E9:D :D 2 E62> 82>6] x H@F=5?VE 92G6 8@EE6? E@ !6CF H:E9@FE v6@C8:6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ$96VD 366? AC@;64E >2?286C[ =@8:DE:4D DFAA@CE 2?5 >J 6>@E:@?2= 4CFE49 E9C@F89@FE E96 H9@=6 E9:?8]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 6IA65:E:@? :D C2:D:?8 >@?6J 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C@4<aC64@G6CJ]4@]F<^Qm#@4<a#64@G6CJk^2m[ H9:49 DFAA@CED >6>36CD @7 E96 pC>65 u@C46D[ G6E6C2?D[ 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46 A6CD@??6= 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms2G6 92D AC6G:@FD=J DA@<6? 23@FE E96 4=@D6 7C:6?5D @7 9:D H9@ 92G6 366? <:==65[ 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 =@DE =:>3D 2?5 2C6 DF776C:?8 >6?E2==J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms6DA:E6 ?62C:?8 E96 6?5 @7 2 492==6?86 E92E 92D 4@?DF>65 2=>@DE 2 J62C @7 9:D =:76[ q6== 92D ?@ A=2?D E@ 364@>6 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 25G6?EFC6C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 D2:5i Qx 42?VE H2:E E@ 8@ 324< E@ ?@C>2= =:76] xV> ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ 3F:=5 2 AC@7:=6[ =2F?49 2 3FD:?6DD @C DE2CE 2 DA62<:?8 42C66C] xV> 5@:?8 E9:D 7@C E96 96== @7 :E[ C62==J E@ D66 :7 :E 42? 36 5@?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ(96? x 86E :?[ :EV== G6CJ BF:4<=J 36 @G6C 7@C >6] xVG6 8@E A=2??:?8 A6C>:DD:@? 7@C H92E :D 32D:42==J 2 8=@C:7:65 D965 :? E96 324< 82C56? H9:49 ?665D D@>6 2EE6?E:@?[ 3FE >@DE=J x ;FDE H2?E E@ 86E 9@>6 2?5 DA6?5 E:>6 H:E9 v6@C8:6]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQx 2=C625J <?@H xV== >:DD E96 @462? H96? E9:D 7:?:D96D E9@F89] x >:89E 5@ 2?@E96C @?6[ @?6 52J[ 3FE xV== 36 @? E96 4C6H H:E9 D@>6@?6 6=D6…>2J36 v6@C8:6 2?5 x H:== C@H 2? @462? E@86E96C @?6 52J]Qk^Am
