73 days of rowing to reach Seychelles |11 September 2014

People passing by the Eden Island roundabout at around 6.30pm yesterday could have noticed red flares which are normally used as a distress signal, only this time it was a sign of victory for four men who have rowed from Australia to Seychelles.

It has taken them 73 days to achieve the feat and members of their family were present at the Eden Island marina to welcome them ashore.

Alex Simpson, Angus Collins, Hamish Khayat and Jamie Sparks took on a journey to row The Tiny Dancer from their native land to Mauritius as a fundraiser activity to help young adults enter their independent life. After facing the hard weather at sea the team decided they will end their journey in Seychelles.

After Jamie Sparks, the team leader, and fellow rower Luke Birch became the youngest to row the Atlantic earlier this year in February 2014, he decided he wanted to do another such adventure this time crossing the Indian Ocean. He rallied his three colleagues and they all agreed to do the challenge for charity.

The rowers were met up by the Alati boat and were guided to the Eden Island jetty where they were greeted with cheering fans, loved ones, family members, friends, photographers and journalists with applauds and horns.

Speaking to Seychelles Nation, Alex Simpson, who met Angus Collins and Hamish Khayat a few months before they left for the sea, said: “It has been quite a challenge as I only knew Jamie Sparks. The teamwork was marvellous. Not once have we argued during the 73 days at sea. It is my first visit to Seychelles and to be seeing a place like Seychelles after spending so many days at sea is just wonderful. We are planning to stay over for a few days to enjoy the Seychelles and we all have our specific date of going back and I am planning to leave for the United Kingdom on September 17,” said Alex Simpson.