February 9 - A life on the ocean wave was enough for a team of five men and one woman to set out from Tenerife just after New Year's Day to row across the Atlantic to Barbados. And one of the rowers was carrying a romantic secret with him.
The oars onboard Team Hallin did not stop rowing after setting off from Tenerife on January 6 until their revolutionary trimaran vessel passed the finishing line in Barbados on Monday, February 7.
The crew set a new record when they landed by completing the 3,000 mile course from Tenerife in 31 days, 23 hours and 31 minutes, shaving more than a day from the existing world record.
Despite the presence of lone female rower Naomi Hoogesteger, 29, rower Chris Covey, 25, had eyes only for girlfriend Susie Easton, 28, who had travelled to Barbados to welcome Team Hallin. He went down on one knee on the dockside and proposed to her immediately upon arrival . Stunned teacher Susie whispered "I do" before bursting into tears.
Hoogesteger says: "There was no privacy on the boat and I've seen enough male dangly bits to last me a lifetime! But that doesn't matter - we did what it took to set a new world record."
Headed by skipper David Hosking, MBE, the rowers worked in two shifts: David, 56, Naomi and Jack Stonehouse, 21, in one and Chris Covey, Paddy Thomas, 28, and Justin Johanneson, 35, in the other. Each shift rowed for two hours and then spent the rest of their time eating, resting and carrying out any maintenance during the next two, before getting back on the oars.
Integrated subsea services provider Hallin Marine supported and sponsored Team Hallin and many of its staff personally contributed to the rowers' chosen charity.
Team Hallin is well on course to raise its target of GBP60,000 (USD96,444) for the charity Combat Stress, which specialises in the care of service veterans' mental health, and has already passed the 40 percent mark, with more than GBP25,000 (USD40,187) being donated.
