Lymington Rowing Club’s Fee Brooker, Kirsty Melin, and Alex Sheldon rescued days into their Rannoch Adventures-organised 650-mile trip for Oakhaven Hospice and Olivia Inspires
Three long-standing members of Lymington Rowing Club had to be rescued days into their 650-mile journey for charity.
Fee Brooker, Kirsty Melin, and Alex Sheldon’s journey – expected to take two weeks – was two days old when stormy seas and high waves left their boat unable to be rowed.
“Well, things don’t always turn out the way we plan them”, said 60-year-old Brooker, Lymington Rowing Club chairman and treasurer. “And that has certainly turned out to be the case for this challenge.
“Just a couple of days into the adventure, we were hit in the open ocean by some unexpected heavy weather with strong winds and huge seas. The waves gradually built eventually to 7-8m, and when a freak one hit us, knocked us down and flooded the boat.
“We were still 30 miles from the nearest land, and it was the middle of the night at this point, so the skippers decided in the interests of crew safety to call for a rescue.”
The journey was a fundraising effort, with Brooker raising money for Oakhaven Hospice while Melin was raising money for Olivia Inspires.
The voyage began near the Turks and Caicos Islands – a British overseas territory in the Caribbean Sea – and planned to culminate in Miami.
Brooker added: “We were eventually picked up after an anxious five-hour wait and taken to safety. Initially, we hoped we would be able to rejoin the boat and continue, but concerns about possible boat damage meant that the only safe decision was to abandon the trip.
“It has been quite a week since then, but we had a crew of really amazing people. Strong friendships have formed through this shared experience, and we are all committed to regrouping next year to complete this ‘unfinished business’.”
Brooker had chosen Oakhaven Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care and support to people facing life-limiting illnesses, as her chosen charity.
Melin chose Olivia Inspires, which assists children and young people who live or are educated in the New Forest District Council area and are facing financial hardship, with the aim of helping them develop their potential in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects, the arts, and sports.
Melin, who lives in Milford, has been a long-standing member of Lymington Rowing Club and oversees the club’s recreational rowers and new members. The 57-year-old is also the founder and owner of Rowing Adventures, a Lymington-based company offering adventure rowing and learn-to-row courses in and around the Solent.
Rannoch Adventures, who organised the 650-mile row, posted: “Our Bahamas and Beyond expedition has certainly delivered an unforgettable adventure! The Roxy crew faced some very challenging weather.
“All ten crew members were safely evacuated to Inagua Island by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, while our skipper and co-skipper ensured Roxy was safely towed to Crooked Island Marina and Lodge.
“As always, crew safety was our absolute priority. We are incredibly proud of the crew’s resilience, professionalism, and teamwork. They faced a complex situation with remarkable composure and adaptability. What a testament to their spirit.”
As we stand, Brooker’s fundraising totals £4,501. To donate, visit shorturl.at/w12xL – meanwhile, Melin’s total stands at £1,885; go to shorturl.at/tAgpl to donate.
