Daryl Farmer

For immediate release
7 June 2014

DARYL FARMER PREPARES TO START 2400 MILE SINGLE-HANDED OCEAN ROW (MOSTLY NAKED) ACROSS PACIFIC TO SUPPORT PETER ANDRE FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

It’s been called ‘the last great race left on planet Earth’.  Twelve people so far have walked on the moon; only four have ever rowed from North America to Hawaii.

On Monday 9 June at 1800 BST (10.00 PT), 39-year old Brit, Daryl Farmer from East Grinstead, West Sussex, will set off in his boat, ‘Bojangles’ on a 2,400 mile single-handed row from Monterey in California to Honolulu through one of the most dangerous oceans in the world.  He is competing in the Great Pacific Race, a challenge organised by legendary British rower, Chris Martin, which will see 13 boats in total try and complete the journey in solo, pairs and fours teams.

International singer, song writer, TV presenter, reality TV star, and New York Coffee Club owner, Peter Andre, whose Foundation will benefit from funds raised by Rowing4Reefs, has even rowed a short distance in ‘Bojangles’ himself.  See Peter Andre Channel footage of Peter and Daryl here  http://entr.ag/18nkgTv  and http://thepeterandrechannel.com/please-try-and-support-daryl-its

Serendipity played a part in Daryl and Peter’s mutual support of each other.  In 2013, on the first Mother’s Day after losing his mother to kidney cancer, Daryl was in an aquatic supplies shop when the Australian star just happened to walk in. They got talking, Daryl ended up installing his fish tank for him, and the two became friends. So when Peter subsequently set up his foundation in memory of his own brother, Daryl’s choice of charity was clear.

Peter Andre, speaking about Daryl’s challenge, said: « I just want to say that I think he is doing an amazing thing by rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean to raise funds for my Foundation and Cancer Research UK. This cause has now become dear to my heart so I support him all the way. »

Daryl is facing the prospect of up to 90 days or more rowing day and night with short sleep breaks in-between and with only his mascot, ‘Jerry the mouse’ and ‘Wilson’, a football with face (a la Castaway) donated to him by a well meaning friend to give him someone else to talk to.  Daryl will mostly be rowing naked as he has been advised that this is the best way to avoid chafing and salt sores.

As a committed ocean conservationist who has protested regularly against shark finning, whaling and the dolphin slaughters in Japan, and who shares many people’s concerns about ocean pollution, he is also using the race to raise funds for marine conservation organisation, Earthrace Conservation.

Daryl and ‘Bojangles’ will be at the mercy of notoriously variable Pacific weather and ocean conditions varying from flat calm to huge storms, as well as the potential hazard of meeting much larger cargo vessels, cruise liners and a variety of large marine animals also crossing the Pacific at the same time.  Whilst the route will be followed by support boats, should anything go wrong, the nearest help may be several days away.

>From Monterey where he is in final preparations for the race, Daryl said, “I’m hoping the biggest challenge was getting to the start line after my boat was held up at US Customs until today.  After all that stress, I think I deserve some plain sailing from here to Hawaii.  I’m looking forward to getting out on the ocean now and can’t wait to start.  I expect to see lots of incredible marine life out there including some sharks with any luck, and whilst I’m definitely expecting the unexpected, I feel very ready to take on the Pacific whatever it decides to throw at me.”

Daryl was inspired to take on this amazing endurance challenge by hearing stories from other adventurers like single-handed rower Roz Savage MBE (who is one of the race organisers), and James Cracknell, OBE.

Rob Hamill from New Zealand, another of the world’s legendary rowers, said: “Doing the race solo is a fantastic endeavour, one that will challenge Darryl to his very core. The success of his campaign will not only depend on his preparation but, more importantly, his ability to cope under the most extreme pressure, to be able to respond accordingly and to have the resolve to carry on no matter what difficulties he might face.  And, apart from the self-development aspect that will come with this experience, his purpose in raising funds for Earthrace is admirable.”

Pete Bethune, founder of Earthrace Conservation and current world powerboat speed record holder for circumnavigating the globe, said:  “What Daryl is taking on is jaw-droppingly brave.  I not only had a bigger boat with engines, but also three other people.  To do this on your own under your own power and through such dangerous waters will be a true test of courage, strength and determination but I have absolutely no doubts that he will be saying ‘aloha’ to everyone very soon in Hawaii”.

Facebook:  /Rowing4Reefs
Tweet Rowing4Reefs:  @pacificsolorow (#gobo)
Tweet Peter Andre:  @MrPeterAndre
Tweet Great Pacific Race:  @NewOceanWave (#greatpacificrace)
Website: www.rowing4reefs.co.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries, photographs or pre-start interviews with Daryl Farmer/Rowing4Reefs, please contact: 
Sabine Grainger, +44 (0)7900 566 741, biene.white@hotmail.com
or
Bev Bailey, +44 (0) 1297 678234/+44 (0) 7711 482 572, bev@earthraceconservation.org

For media enquiries about The Great Pacific Race, please contact:
Jessica Switzer (001) 415 272 3944  jessica@bluepractice.com or Sandra Martin, (001) 831 917 4184 sandra@newoceanwave.com

More about The Great Pacific Race:  www.newoceanwave.com/great-pacific-race and www.greatpacificrace.com

Media notes:
Daryl’s boat, ‘Bojangles’, is 24ft x 6ft, made from a special carbon/Kevlar foam sandwich construction and was built with the Pacific in mind.  She is one of the strongest, most proven and sought-after ocean rowing boats in the world, already in the record books as the first and only rowing boat to successfully complete a crossing of the Pacific West to East with its crew of Mick Dawson and Chris Martin in 2009

Daryl’s boat carries the race number 6 – his mother’s lucky number.

Crews in the Great Pacific Race come from nine different countries including the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, France and Ireland.

The current solo world record for this particular ocean rowing route is held by Mick Bird, who rowed it single-handed in 1997 in a time of 64 days

Live position updates will be available throughout the race at www.greatpacificrace.com from Monday 9 June

More about The Great Pacific Race:  www.newoceanwave.com/great-pacific-race, contact info@newoceanwave.com or 1-(831) 920 4636, +44 (0)7967 826833

About the Peter Andre Foundation
Launched in April 2013, with Cancer Research UK, the Peter Andre Foundation was established as a way for Peter and his family to remember his brother Andrew, who sadly died of cancer in late 2012.

The Peter Andre Foundation aims to raise £500,000 every year to help fund Cancer Research UK’s ‘Cancer Awareness Roadshow’ which gets information about cancer out to people in their own communities

Members of the public can come onboard and speak to Cancer Research UK’s trained cancer awareness nurses about helping them spot cancer early and reducing their risk of the disease

Finding cancer early makes a real difference. Most deaths from cancer are caused by the disease spreading around the body. So if cancer is diagnosed early, before it’s had time to spread or grow too big, it’s nearly always easier to treat successfully.

About Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research
• The charity’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
• Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.

• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

To support Daryl and donate to the Peter Andre Foundation: http://www.justgiving.com/solopacificrow

For further information about the Peter Andre Foundation and Cancer Research UK please visit www.peterandrefoundation.com or contact  press.office@cancer.org.uk / 0203 469 8300

Earthrace Conservation
The oceans cover over 70% of the earth’s surface and the scale of the problems and issues being faced by marine mammals and the habitats they live in are immense.

We raise funds for marine conservation projects that help protect marine habitats and wildlife. We use direct action and education to make change happen. Everyone at Earthrace is a volunteer and all money raised goes directly towards our work around the world.

To support Daryl and donate to Earthrace:  https://www.justgiving.com/seaworldsucks

For further information about Earthrace Conservation, please visit www.earthraceconservation.org or www.facebook.com/earthrace or tweet @earthrace