Travel Weekly Blog

FINAL UPDATE: They got to Paris and got there first.

8 May 8.08: Ed has just texted to say they have made it and were first over the finish line - this is a very different outcome (see last message from Ed) to the one he predicted!

Ed sent a picture. I was expecting a shot of a physically ruined man but this is what I got . . . well done to all the rowers.

UPDATE: I have been in text communication with Ed. Here is what he has been saying . ..

6 May 9.35: Still racing but not a chance of us winning. Don't really care as getting so much out of it but that probably leaves me at a bit of a loss for the 21st century [sic].

5 May 22.34: Started rowing at 4am and rowed 13 hours since then. On a rest right now but expect to be back in the boat within an hour and will remain there until 4am when we hope to reach Ampreville. Will thenn sleep a few hours in any space on the suppport boat. Amazingly still enjoying myself.

4 May 20.00: For me to even try and class this as a race is to degrade it utterly. i shall have even more of a thousand yard stare in the future! (Ed sits opposite me in the TW office).

4 May 20.35: We've arrived! ten minutes late after 32 hours rowing from Ramsgate to le havre.

4 May: 20.26: 5 hours early on first leg. Channel like a mill pond but hands f***ed already. These artist's tools will never work again.

TW's reporter Ed Robertson is rowing in the London to Paris challenge. A race between two cutter rowing boats. The fun started this morning at 11am when the race started at Westminster Bridge.

We'll be following Ed over the next six days to see how the team is doing. Received a text from Ed half an hour ago which read:

Having lost sight of the others we are now overtaking them as we reach the sea.

Today's leg from Westminster Bridge to Dover is 105 miles and should take 24 hours.

The race is non-stop . . . so don't peak too early, Ed.

Martin Couzins, online editor