START 14 DECEMBER 2018 - DAKAR TO PARAMARIBO - 2305 NAUTICAL MILES
Ocean Plastic
According to reports, 8 billion kilos of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, that’s a staggering 22,000,000 kilos of plastic every day; 900,000 kilos of plastic per hour; the equivalent of 60 container loads each weighing 15 tons. No wonder our beaches are covered in plastic debris. The problem will be with us for generations.
Over the course of time the sun breaks down plastic into micro plastics. Fish and other marine life end up with plastic in their digestive system, which eventually makes it into the human food chain.
Safe Arrival in Paramaribo
After over month at sea, Year of Zayed, Supertramp and their crews arrived safely in Paramaribo. Row4Ocean finally came to an end on January 15th after 32 days in the Atlantic Ocean.
Year of Zayed crossed the Continental Shelf more than 24 hours before arriving in Suriname, with the depth of the sea rising suddenly from 3 000m to 200m. As the water shallowed the heavy ocean swell decreased and the deep blue of the water turned to green / brown from the numerous rivers that flow into the sea in this region.
TEAM
PATRICK BOL
Height: 200cm
Weight: 99kgs
Nickname: RTG (Real Tall Guy) it is also a yard crane….
Patrick is a Container Terminal executive with over 25 years of experience in the port and maritime business. In Nautical College, he started coastal rowing thanks to his competitive streak, played baseball and ran marathons. He won a bronze medal at the Pilot Gig Rowing World Championship’s in the Isles of Scilly, UK in 2000.
25 Years ago he led a rowing team across the English channel from Felixstowe to Rotterdam and in the 1990’s sailed for 4 years as a professional sailor around the World’s oceans. That schooling prepared him for this voyage – leading a team across the Atlantic.
Patrick’s love for the ocean started when he sailed in the Pacific. Plastic levels are rising and in partnership with DP World’s Oceans campaign he aims to help get plastics out of the ocean for the benefit of future generations – including his 7 year old son, Maximus.
Patrick is also extremely passionate about breaking the record and has made it clear to all that only a world record will do….
ANDREW RUINOFF
Weight: 90kgs
Andrew grew up in Surrey, UK and attended boarding school where he pursued the love of sports . Having captained his school, college and university at rugby, his love of sports didn’t stop there – he has an affinity for extreme challenges, always looking to push the boundaries. He finished 194th out of 1250 in the Marathon Des Sables considered the toughest footrace on earth; completed 7 Ironman and 3 Ultra-Marathon competitions; successfully climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa (5895m) and Aconcagua in Argentina (6962m) as well as swimming from Asia to Europe.
Andrew’s motivation stems from the physical and mental challenge of rowing an ocean, and also the social cause – reducing the amount of plastic in our Oceans. He believes its something that needs action as it affects all of us and future generations. Also, he would love to own a world record!
LEWIS KNOLLMAN
Weight: 94kgs
Nickname: Ronald
Lewis grew up in Surrey, UK and has lived and worked in Dubai for the last three years. He started rowing at 11 after being introduced to the sport by his father who was an experienced oarsman himself.
Training at least 2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week became normal for Lewis growing up, from his time at Walton Rowing Club as a junior rower and then Oxford Brookes University Rowing Team, renowned for their domination of British university rowing over the last 30 years.
Lewis heard of this challenge, from Patrick’s wife who happens to be a work colleague. After finding out there was a place up for grabs he applied. It’s what he needed to feed his competitive fire which still burns brightly.
There are many great causes in the world but Lewis believes there is none better than the effort to clean our oceans. Every day we see the effects of how humans have polluted the seas and its now a question of damage limitation. He thinks it should be a number one priority for all the governments of the world.
Lewis knows that crossing the finishing line after weeks of mental and physical endurance will be a feeling to be savoured.
MATT WILDS
Weight: 88kg
Nickname: Billy
Matt grew up in Yorkshire, UK and has been a keen sportsman all his life and has played rugby, cricket and football at county level. Matt has always loved the oceans and has spent a number of years boating in different location around the country. He owns a successful business in Dubai and partners Patrick and Lewis on daily training stints as they get themselves ship shape for the great adventure.
Matt is extremely passionate about the Ocean Clean Up. He wants to create awareness and believes we can all do more. Having spent a lot of time at sea he has seen first hand the amount of plastic and believes if we can get people talking, it will have a knock-on effect and attract business involvement. He’s keen to challenge himself and to push his body and mind, making his family proud and showing others that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
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