News

The eight man entry of Boat No. 88 ‘Aud Eamus’ is the first of a new generation of pay per place, ocean rowing teams.  Put together with the soul aim of setting a speed record for the fastest crossing of the Indian Ocean, this diverse, multi national crew consists of males and females of all ages as well as able-bonded and disabled athletes.

Each individual crew member has a strong ultra endurance/adventure background and brings to the team a variety of different skills that complement one another.  They are all likeminded individuals with a strong appetite to be the very best they can in what ever they do.  However, one common and vital skill necessary for the success of this crew concept is team work.

Heading up the Aud Eamus team is Angela Madsen (48) from California, USA.  Despite being disabled following a back operation that left her paralyzed from the waste down, Angela is an accomplished rower and surfer, competing regularly and coaching others to take up adaptive sports.

Angela is one of three crew members onboard Aud Eamus with previous ocean rowing experience.  Together with French crewmate, Franck Festor she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2007 with a crossing time of 67 days.

Brian Flick (23) from Oregon, USA is an entrepreneur who started his own chocolate business as a teenager.  As an acclaimed adventurer and mountain climber his young age does not reflect his experience in ultra endurance events.

Bernard Fisset (45) from Brussels, Belgium is the crew’s nutritionist, physical therapist and physical trainer, bringing his professional skills to the benefit of the team.  Climbing Kilimanjaro, rowing across the English Channel and running across the desert prove that Bernard has all the credentials necessary to be part of this elite team.

Doug Tumminello (43) from Denver, USA has a passion for mountaineering.  He spent over a year climbing in Alaska, Argentina, Colorado and Wyoming after leaving the US Army in 1992.  In 2006, Doug was the team leader of Team No Limits which scaled Mount Everest via the Southeast Ridge.

Helen Taylor (22) from Suffolk, UK is the youngest member of the team and has recently graduated from the University of Oxford in Chemistry.  During her time at Oxford University, Helen rowed for Oxford at Women’s Henley and other top regattas.  She is currently using her gap year to broaden her horizons by rowing across the Indian Ocean.

Paul Cannon (44) from the UK is a flying trapeze catcher and coach with an impressive CV of ultra endurance adventures that include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and sailing the Bass Strait.

The last two places go to Ian Couch and Woodvale’s own, Simon Chalk.  Both Ian and Simon took part in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007 as two members onboard the six man, speed entry of ‘Oyster Shack’.  Having already rowed across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Simon’s ocean rowing experience is second to none.  His knowledge of the boat, its equipment, weather and routing makes Simon a real asset to this team.

Having set off from Geraldton nine days after the rest of the racing fleet, the crew of Aud Eamus has only one goal in mind – to cross the Indian Ocean in the quickest possible time.  With half of the crossing now complete, Aud Eamus has already climbed up through the fleet and now sits just behind the current race leaders, Boat No. 7 ‘Bexhill Trust Challenger’.  They are very much on track to set the record that they have been so focused on achieving since the start.

Eight man crew, pay per place entries will now be rolled out across all Woodvale Ocean Rowing Races including the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009.  For further information about Pay per Place entries, please contact Woodvale Challenge at:

Tel:       +44 (0) 1752 846661

E-mail:  info@woodvale-challenge.com