Icelandic rowers made welcome in Orkney

The Icelandic crew who recently rowed from Norway to Orkney have said they’ve been made to feel very welcome in the islands, and have exchanged gifts with Orkney Islands Council to mark their stay.

They met with the council’s vice-convener Jim Foubister this week to exchange flags and gifts, with the Icelandic flag now flying over the council offices in Kirkwall.

They will join the vice-convener tonight for a drinks reception to mark the start of the St Magnus Festival.

The crew have already covered over 380 miles and they plan on starting on the next leg of their voyage after a short stay in Orkney.

The crew’s aim is to row unsupported from Norway to Iceland, via Orkney and the Faroe Islands in 2013, before continuing on to Greenland and Canada in 2014.