Round Great Britain Rowing Challenge Skiff Completes Build

Owen Clarke’s rowing skiff design has left Ian Munslow’s Carbonish Structures yard in Millbrook for final fit-out of electrics, electronics and rowing systems by her skipper/owner Angus Collins. At less than 22’ and with a measured composite weight of less than 120kg she is one of the smallest ocean rowing boats ever built.

Angus Collins is a renowned ocean rower and endurance athlete, celebrated for his record-breaking achievements across the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. He is currently working on a new challenge; The Great British Odyssey,  aiming to become the first person to row solo, non-stop, and unsupported around mainland Great Britain. For this ambitious endeavour he came to Owen Clarke to design a unique rowing boat, one that has to be both capable of being rowed upwind and anchored on most days of the passage.

To fulfil both these requirements OC came up with a low windage solution (the opposite of a normal ocean rowing boat which to some extent relies on windage) with a daggerboard and water ballast for increasing stability/safety. We considered anchoring to be a priority; to be able to be undertaken from the safety of the cockpit and to optimise the way the boat lies to wind and waves, anchored at the bow. The solution was a lightweight carbon, throw arm system mounting a 6kg super high holding power anchor. Control lines and the anchor warp are led back to jammers via an anchor trench in the foredeck.

Angus aims to begin his attempt In June 2025. If successful he will be the first person to complete the challenge and a new datum world record will be set. The British coastline is notoriously dangerous and the 2000 miles difficult to navigate because of the proximity of the coast with its shipping lanes, strong tides and often challenging, sometimes dangerous weather conditions. Indeed, it’s always been considered amongst sailors that the Round Britain Race is at least as difficult, perhaps more difficult to complete than an east to west race across the Atlantic.

For more information, go to: Angus Collins – Beyond Endurance