News

It’s been five years in the making, but the day has finally arrived and the Indian Ocean Rowing Race has begun.

After much banter between the Teams and wishes of ‘good luck’, there was plenty of emotion as the crews said their final ‘good byes’ before departing from the Batavia Marina and making their way out to the Start Line.

A huge crowd estimated at over a thousand gathered on Geraldton Town Beach to watch the start of what is not only the first Ocean Rowing Race to cross the Indian Ocean but also the first ever Ocean Rowing Race in the Southern Hemisphere.

On board the official start boat, Ian Carpenter the Mayor of the City of Geraldton-Greenough sounded the starting horn and the competitors were escorted away from the start line by a flotilla of between 40 and 50 vessels of all types and sizes.  The fleet were graced by the presence of the beautiful wooden Batavia longboat replica under sail and even one of the large commercial tugs came out and gave a spectacular fire-hose display send-off together with some nifty doughnuts for good measure.

Boats filled with family and friends wished the crews good luck as they headed off towards the horizon, while TV and press boats zoomed around the fleet capturing the excitement and a TV film crew buzzed overhead for a birds eye view.

Check out the photos section for a small sample of the action, with further footage to follow shortly.