Row the line: Rowers record-setting journeys from Australia to Africa finish within days of each other

Two boats which set off from the Mid West are expected to arrive in Africa within days of each other, after leaving from Carnarvon and Geraldton to row across the Indian Ocean in separate quests for charity. Indirow23 are a group of four men from Perth who set sail on May 11 from Geraldton, and on Wednesday they arrived at their intended destination of Mauritius at 4.37pm AWST, making them the 61st group to complete the journey. Chris Cleghorn, Ben Mann, Allan Huntly and Steve Easter are raising funds for Parkinson’s disease, in honour of Mr Cleghorn’s mother-in-law, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2007. The group was aiming to break the world record for the voyage which is 68 days, but came in just shy, arriving on their 69th day. During their 69 days at sea, the group endured 6m swells, snapping oars and the need to repair equipment through the night. Two days from their arrival date, the pin holding the rudder in place sheared off, and the crew were forced to use rope and cable ties to put it back in place. The team has more than $95,000, which will go towards Parkinson’s research with the Perron Institute, Edith Cowan University and a portion going towards Ocean Plastics. Meanwhile, solo rower Rob Barton is at the end of his arduous adventure in the name of mental health awareness, after his experience with his daughter, Jess. Mr Barton began the 8358km voyage from Carnarvon to Tanzania on April 26, rowing for 15 hours a day, facing huge swells and enduring multiple capsizes. The grandfather and father of four had only been at sea for a few days, when he called his operations manager and said he was quitting and going to Exmouth, and began rowing back to Australia. Mr Barton had a leaking boat and was seasick, but in a moment of reflection he remembered why he began the journey in the first place, his daughter Jess had attempted to take her own life in 2021 after struggling with anxiety and depression. Mr Barton became the first person to ever row solo, and unassisted from Australia to Africa. Rob’s Row has raised $46,000 of the $100,000 goal, and his journey was completed on Friday in north east Tanzania. LIFELINE 13 11 14 BEYOND BLUE 1300 22 4636