Rescued rowers may try ocean race gain

TWO Irish rowers who nearly died when their boat capsized in a transatlantic race have not ruled out another attempt at the challenge.

Gearóid Towey, 28, from Kilworth, Co Cork, and Ciaran Lewis, 34, from Dalkey, Co Dublin, were greeted by an emotional band of family and friends at Dublin Airport yesterday.

The weary pair had been travelling for nearly a week since a Spanish supertanker rescued them from a force seven storm near Bermuda.

Visibly surprised by yesterday’s reception, Towey and Lewis were hugged by family members in an emotional reunion.

Towey said: “We’re very relieved to be home.

“We wouldn’t rule out doing the race again. We’ll have to have a think about it.”

Lewis added: “Technically, it was one-in-a-million freak weather conditions that got in the way so we were unfortunate in that respect but very lucky to get out of it.”

The pair flew from the southern Spanish port of Cartagena yesterday morning after docking with the Hispania Spirit.

The 98,000-tonne cargo vessel rescued them after they sent an emergency distress signal from their 23ft Digicel Atlantic Challenge boat which had been smashed to pieces by a huge wave.

They had been taking part in the Atlantic rowing race across the ocean.

They had problems earlier with their rudder and were then capsized by a wave.

Towey said last week that he feared for his life.

“The moment I had my biggest fear was when I was in the water when it capsized - I thought this is it, I’m going to drown.”

The pair had been raising money for Concern and the Merchant’s Quay Project.

The rowers described how they were plunged into the water after a 10-foot wave hit their 23ft vessel.

“For a few moments when the boat capsized it felt like life or death,” said Towey.

“But as soon as we got ourselves together, we just clicked into survival mode and we did what was necessary to pull ourselves through.”

Towey said he and his partner would reflect on the experience and make a decision on another attempt at the 40-day race.

“Getting across the ocean was something that we wanted to do. We’ll give it a bit of time to do a bit of thinking and see how we feel after that.

“Life is there to be lived and these are very exciting things to do,” he added.

The men revealed how lucky they were that the Spirit of Hispania was nearby to rescue them.

Lewis said: “The crew told us that they had not taken that route in over three years. They normally sail by the Bahamas. So we were very lucky in that regard. We were in the middle of nowhere basically and it would have taken days in the life raft to get help.”

The pair told reporters that they presented the crew of the supertanker with a framed picture of their adventure, which was painted by a friend in Ireland.

Lewis said: “They basically saved our lives at the end of the day.”

The rowers had a reunion with family and friends at the Great Southern Hotel at Dublin Airport.