British crew become first to row to magnetic north pole

Five-man team took just under four weeks to complete 450-mile route, which was possible due to seasonal ice melt in the Arctic An explorer on Friday said he was “exhilarated” after he and his crew became the first people to row to the magnetic north pole. Jock Wishart and his five-man team took just under four weeks to complete the 450-mile route. They encountered polar bears and collided with icebergs as they travelled through the Arctic waters in their specially designed vessel. The trip has only recently become possible because of an increase in seasonal ice melt in the Arctic, which has opened up the waters. Wishart, who was born in Dumfries, organised the Old Pulteney Row to the pole to highlight the effects of climate change on the ice in the region. He said: “I think this is one of my greatest achievements. It was a dream four years ago but now it’s reality. Up until last night we still could not say with certainty that we would reach our destination, so we are all exhilarated and relieved that weather conditions were in our favour and we have completed our row to the magnetic north pole while it was still possible. “It is an enormous achievement, and a privilege for our team to have been part of what is one of the world’s last great firsts.” Crew member Mark Delstanche, 35, from London, had another reason to celebrate as he became a father to a son a few days ago. The group set out from Resolute Bay in Canada on 29 July in their boat, the Old Pulteney, which has runners on its underside so that it can be hauled over the ice. They slept in shifts between rowing stints and were fuelled by 7,000-calorie dry rations a day. The group saw about eight polar bears on their journey, one of which came within 5ft (1.5 metres) of them. Another challenge was floating ice that blocked their route, particularly towards the end of their journey. Wishart, who is in his late 50s, said: “We’ve been very lucky with the weather but there’s been times when we’ve been trying to find our way through moving ice floes in fog and we’re a long, long way from help. But everyone in the team has been in good humour and fettle. They are the best of the bunch. “Now I’m looking forward to a nice pint and a glass of malt whisky when I get home,” he added. Wishart has had a lifelong interest in polar exploration and in 1992 was part of the first team to walk unsupported to the geomagnetic north pole. He has also rowed across the Atlantic and captained the team that broke the London to Paris rowing record in 1999. The other rowers in the Arctic crew were Billy Gammon, 37, from Cornwall; Rob Sleep, 38, and British army officer Captain David Mans, 28, both from Hampshire. Mans, from the Princess of Wales’s Royal regiment, was selected from about 300 international entrants of a competition to find the last crew member. Cyclist Mark Beaumont, 28, from Fife, was also on board making a documentary about the voyage for the BBC. Beaumont holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, covering 18,296 miles in 194 days 17 hours. He completed the challenge in February 2008. Throughout the journey, the rowing crew worked with scientific research partners to provide environmental data on the impact of arctic deterioration on the polar landscape. Arctic Rowing Polar regions Scotland London guardian.co.uk

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