Commodore's Trophy Winner, Atlantic Rower Simon Howes Reaches Fundraising Goal for IOW Red Squirrel Trust

Published 08:59 on 18 Sep 2023

Simon Howes has exceeded his fundraising goal of £100,000 to support the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust in their endeavor to acquire a field for planting trees to create a new woodland habitat for red squirrels. Let's revisit Simon's incredible journey.

Nearly two years ago, at the age of 66, Simon Howes embarked on a daring Atlantic rowing expedition, in support the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust. However, less than two days into the crossing, he slipped, injured his elbow and had to be rescued. 

Undeterred by this setback, Simon embarked on another attempt this year, this time opting for a completely unassisted solo journey, devoid of any race affiliation and the accompanying safety net. Despite facing daunting challenges, including gales, 35-40 foot waves, encounters with whales and sharks, a broken oar, and the boat being capsized twice, Simon's unwavering determination brought him to St. Lucia in the Caribbean after 72 gruelling days. Notably, Simon now holds the record as the oldest and fastest individual to have ever solo-rowed this Atlantic route unassisted, and he stands as the third oldest person in history to row any ocean on the planet. Simon also did it in style, marking the midway point of his journey with a celebratory bottle of Claret.

While Simon's achievement is truly outstanding, this year's Commodore's Trophy was not solely awarded to him. During the Annual General Meeting, the Commodore commented for personal experience, that the most challenging part of such a journey is not always for the participant who benefits from an adrenaline rush as the adventure starts, but by those left behind. In this adventure, Sara, Simon's wife, had to bid farewell to him twice. Therefore, the Commodore's trophy was awarded to both Simon and Sara this year.

Simon and Sara were guest speakers at our Fitting Out dinner on Saturday, May 27th - the ticket price included a donation to the Red Squirrel Woodland project. 

The Isle of Wight holds significance as the primary stronghold for red squirrels in the UK. The Island's red squirrels possess unique genetic strains that could prove invaluable for future conservation efforts. To ensure the survival of these creatures, more suitable habitats with interconnected corridors are needed. The Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust has set its sights on acquiring a field that would serve as a habitat for numerous red squirrel families - The Isle of Wight, in comparison to other counties, lacks substantial woodland cover. 

For those interested in learning more about Simon's incredible adventure and watching a video interview, you can visit here. Additionally, please consider making a donation to support Simon and Sara's fundraising for the Red Squirrel project here.