People Features

Billy Gammon from Constantine Bay near Padstow and a team of three others are competing in a 3,568 mile race across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Mauritius. 

It was announced recently that the teams support boat had lost contact with the Rowing for Prostate Team after their satellite phone died as they entered the final 500 stretch.

Although unaccounted for the support team are not worried for the safety of the team as none of the crew's emergency beacons have been activated. At present the boys are still in fourth place in their three and a half thousand mile journey from Australia to Mauritius which began in mid April.

Unfortunately the team's tracker broke a few weeks ago so until the support boat find the team or the boys cross the finish line, they have no true idea of their current position in the race.

At present two teams have finished the race with one active competitor still ahead of team Rowing for Prostate.

Speaking about the last time she made contact with the team Rebecca said: "They were having the most amazing time, clearing 67 miles in 24 hours, loving the rowing, zooming along surfing big waves and having a ball".

Although the finishing line is closer in sight, tough weather, contaminated food and an unsure finishing date is putting the 'Rowing for Prostate' team against some difficult challenges.

As it has never been staged before the race had an estimated completion date of 60 days, on day 60 the team think 80 days will be closer to the mark, but are still unsure.

To add insult to injury the team have also had to throw away some of their rations which had been contaminated by sea water as waves broke over the boat in a storm. Speaking about their current progress, Billy said:

"The main issue this is going to cause us is rations. We only rationed for about 70 days, we already had to throw away 10 days worth of contaminated food, we're now on 50 percent of our required daily intake, which is starting to take its toll on our bodies".

As a result of the rationing the crew are finding fatigue is biting exceptionally hard at the moment, and the ever closer finish line is what's spurring them on. The event itself is the first ever rowing race across the Indian Ocean and also the southern hemisphere.

When speaking about the messages of support BBC Cornwall users have sent to the team, Billy said: "Thanks to all the listeners, we've had some cracking emails from the Radio Cornwall Listeners, we'll just keep going and hopefully do Cornwall proud and get there safe in one piece as quickly as possible."