Oldham Atihletc chairman Frank Rothwell is set to break his own world record for rowing solo across the Atlantic, raising hundreds of thousands for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Couples from all over the world will get together for special dinners on Valentine’s Day. Frank and Judith Rothwell are looking forward to an especially memorable Valentine’s Day “slap-up meal” in Antigua.
This is due to the fact that Frank, the 73-year-old chairman of Oldham Athletic, has been apart from Judith for the past two months, rowing solo across the Atlantic to raise a quarter of a million pounds for the purpose of researching Alzheimer’s disease. Frank set out to break his own record in December, having previously accomplished the trip three years prior, raising over £1 million, and becoming the oldest person to row the Atlantic alone.
He will break his own world record this week, and on Wednesday, he will spend one of their most sentimental Valentine’s Days to date with his cherished 53-year-old wife. Frank’s mission hasn’t been easy, though, even though he left the Canary Islands with a more advanced vessel and greater supplies than on his previous expedition.
The charming businessman’s second transatlantic voyage has proven to be far more challenging and tiring than the first when he capsiz”This year hasn’t seen the usual long-term Eastern trade winds in this region, which have been absent this year. The inconsistent winds have had me do loop-the-loops and double back, among other things.ed four times en way to Antigua, including a terrifying incident in which he was flung overboard due to unforeseen circumstances.
Speaking from his boat, around 300 miles from the finish line, Frank discussed the challenges he has faced this time around with the Manchester Evening News last week.
“Last time I did it in 56 days and I thought I’d shave a week off that this time and do 49 days,” he stated. “I’ve straightened out everything that was holding me back the last time. A smoother, quicker boat, and everything I’ve accomplished. I’ve managed okay, but compared to the previous 20 years, this year’s wind has been very different.
Oldham chairman Frank Rothwell was all smiles before setting off from the Canary Islands, but the conditions in the Atlantic made his trip a lot harder than expected.
“Obviously, things aren’t going as quickly as I’d want. Everything else, though, is going well. My goal day is Valentine’s Day.”Frank joked with the Oldham Athletic media that he intended to toss certain necessities overboard to lighten his boat and beat his time from 2021 since he had originally meant to reach landfall sooner than three years earlier. However, he was compelled by the unforeseen trade winds and currents to spend days attempting to stay still until the weather cleared up, periodically releasing a sea anchor to lessen the distance he was pushed backward.
Over the course of the two months, Frank’s boat capsized and overturned four times, including three times in one night due to extremely unfavourable weather. Frank was tossed overboard on one of those instances, and the only thing holding him to his boat was the safety rope.
“I capsized three times in one day – the second one was really bad because I was outside,” he said. “The first occasion, I was in the cabin during the night when a large wave rolled the boat over onto the roof and back while it was bobbing along. Everything that was in the cabinets was everywhere. That surprised me; perhaps it’s not as hard as I imagined.
“After it was light, I went outside to lower the boat’s speed by plunging the sea anchor, or parachute, into the water. While I was doing that, I was thrown overboard by another wave. I always have a lifeline on me and am hooked. I had to climb back onto the boat since I was in the water two feet away from it. I misplaced a tonne of gear, including my emergency satellite beacon, numerous ropes, and a tonne of gear. I refused to go back into the sea to get them!
“Then, [last Thursday], I overturned. I was being blown in the wrong direction, so I had to get the parachute out, but it wasn’t difficult. When I attempted to stop the boat using the sea anchor, we encountered a narrow wind patch. The boat was thrown all over the place at a speed of roughly forty miles per hour. I was facing the incorrect direction since one of the ropes had looped around the rudder. All night long, there were a lot of waves breaking over the boat’s side.
Frank persevered on his journey without once considering giving up. partly because it was never actually a feasible option to do so.
Frank Rothwell and his family have owned Oldham Athletic since 2022, and have overseen an improvement in fortunes at Boundary Park. Frank kept in touch with the club during his row, sanctioning some high-profile signings.
He clarified, saying, “You just can’t jack it in. You’re not able to hail a cab or anything. You’re out at sea 500 or 1,000 miles. A boat would not be able to get you for three days. After the pressure released after three or four hours, those who had previously jacked it in came to the conclusion that it wasn’t as horrible as they had initially imagined. I gritted my teeth and continued.
They refer to it as the world’s toughest row, but in my opinion, it’s the toughest thing there is. There is nothing harder than this, in my opinion. There’s no turning around. Three years ago, this one was lot easier, and this time, I’m more prepared. The trade winds are shifting, the currents are moving in a different direction, and the sea is warmer.”
Finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Frank established a goal completion date of Valentine’s Day, when he will meet his wife Judith and their two kids in Antigua for a “slap up meal.” The businessman is excited about a cold lemonade and going back to his favourite Boundary Park to watch Oldham in addition to that.
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