Rowers head for Orkney

A rowing boat left Norway this morning, Monday, bound for Kirkwall.

The boat is crewed by four Icelanders whose goal is to row unsupported from Norway to Iceland, via Scotland and the Faroe Islands, in 2013. Next year they then plan to continue on to Greenland and Canada.

The route covers some of the most difficult seas in the North Atlantic and has never been rowed successfully before.

Ingrid Kuhlman, from  the support team explained they left at 6 am this morning in calm conditions, saying: “The weather conditions were optimal, clear skies, birds singing, the sun coming up, and everyone was very focused and ready to get started. They will now row 273 miles to Kirkwall where they will hopefully arrive in good spirits by the end of the week.”