Corkman’s team rows to €135k finish line

A 25-year-old Corkman is on course to claim his share of the biggest prize in world rowing when he and his fellow crew complete a gruelling 2,000-mile non-stop race around Britain.

Gavin Sheehan from Blackrock and his fellow racers aboard the Black Oyster will win £115,000 (€135,000) between them as long as they reach Tower Bridge in London within the next 24 hours — but it is likely they will finish at 5pm this evening.

The crew — named The Islanders — were among six boats which set out from Tower Bridge on June 1. However, all but The Islanders and fellow racers Savoir Faire have retired. Savoir Faire were more than 400 nautical miles behind The Islanders last night.

According to the organisers, The Islanders hope to reach Southend by 10am to catch the flood tide to reach Tower Bridge by 5pm, taking around 12 hours off the record.

“If they miss that tide window, they will catch the next tide and arrive around 5am on Friday morning — still in time to break the record,” the organisers said. That record is 26 days, 21 hours, and 14 minutes.

Gavin Sheehan, who works part-time in the family’s garage business, has been rowing since he was 13. He has won all-Ireland rowing championships and has represented Ireland.

His fellow crew members in the Black Oyster are Josh Taylor and Alan Morgan, from Essex, and James Plumley, from Guernsey. They have been working in two-hour shifts aboard the double cabin vessel.

At one point, Gavin strained his back rowing in the treacherous conditions but he made a recovery.