Congratulations to Simon and Sara Howes on being awarded the Commodore's trophy

Published 08:28 on 23 Apr 2023

The Flag Officers would like to congratulate Simon and Sara Howes on being awarded the Commodore's trophy this year. This trophy is for boating activities outside Seaview by a Club member or member of staff.

A year and a bit ago, Simon Howes, at the age of 66, set off to row the Atlantic, in aid of the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust. Simon describes himself as a 'not some big muscle man or anything like that, I'm Mr Normal.'

Simon crossing was part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, like several younger SVYC members before - including, Commodore's Trophy previous winner, Oliver Glanville, and George Blandford, Justin Evelegh and Toby and Caspar Thorp. Simon also did this with the style, that those of you that know him would expect, including holding a leaving drinks party at the Club.

Less than two days into the crossing, he slipped and suffered an injury to his elbow and had to be rescued.

Undeterred, this year, Simon set off again. This time he did it completely unassisted (so not as part of a race and so without the access to the rescue that comes with this). And despite encounters with gales, 35-40 foot waves, whales, sharks, a broken oar, and the boat being knocked down through 175 degrees twice, after 72 days, he reached St Lucia in the Caribbean. Simon is the oldest and fastest person in history to have ever rowed that route solo and unassisted. He is also the third oldest person in history to row any ocean on the planet. Simon did it in style, with a bottle of Claret at the midway point.

Simon's achievement is fantastic, but the Commodores trophy was not awarded this year just to him. As the Commodore remarked at the AGM from his personal experience, "the hardest part of this type of challenge isn't always for the participant though I should hasten to add that there is no comparison with Simon's adventure and crossing the Atlantic on a Swan with a crew of eight, a water maker, hot showers, a two thousand video library and an expresso maker. But in most of these adventures, the participants benefit from an adrenalin rush from which those we leave behind do not. In this case, Sara has had to say goodbye to Simon twice. So, I have also awarded the Commodore's trophy this year to Sara."

Simon and Sara have agreed to be our guest speakers at our Fitting Out dinner on Saturday 27th May. You can book in for this dinner here. The dinner ticket price also includes a donation to the Red Squirrel Woodland Project - Sara and Simon have already raised nearly £90,000 for this important project.

You can read more about their adventure and watch a video interview here. And donate to the Red Squirrel project here.