Team Hallin: a world record and a marriage proposal

Congratulations from everyone at British Rowing to Team Hallin who have just crossed the line in Barbados after more than four punishing weeks at sea.  Let’s hope that their amazing achievement in setting a new world record will make it all seem worthwhile!

The five men and one woman crew on board Team Hallin set the new record  when they landed in Barbados and completed the 3,000 mile course from  Tenerife in 31days and 23 hours and 31 minutes.

Their efforts shaved more than a day from the existing world  record of 33 days, 7 hours and 30 minutes and just to add to the celebrations, rower Chris Covey surprised his teammates and girlfriend Susie  Easton who had travelled to Barbados to welcome Team Hallin, by going  down on one knee on the dockside and proposing to her.

Stunned teacher Susie, whispered ‘I do’ before bursting into tears. She said: ‘It was an amazing and wonderful surprise.’

The oars on board Team Hallin did not stop rowing from setting of from Tenerife on 6th January until their revolutionary trimaran vessel passed  the finishing line in Barbados on Monday, 7th February.

Skipper David Hosking, who coaches rowing at Charterhouse School  in the UK, was delighted that he and his team had broken the record. David said: ‘Everyone has been amazing and  all our bodies are wrecked! It was stunning team work that saw us set a new world record and the culmination of two years of planning!

 ‘I want to thank Hallin Marine for its sponsorship – without their  involvement we would not have been able to make this trip and break the  world record!’

Each rower lost more than two stones (13 Kilos) in weight during their  record-breaking row, despite consuming three times the average adult’s  daily calorie intake every day.

Team Hallin’s only female, Naomi Hoogesteger, said: ‘There was no  privacy on the boat and I’ve seen enough male dangly bits to last me a  lifetime! But that doesn’t matter – we did what it took to set a new  world record.’

The rowers worked in two shifts: David, Naomi and Jack Stonehouse,  in one and Chris Covey, Paddy Thomas, and Justin Johanneson, in the other. Each shift rowed for two hours and then spent the rest of  their time eating, resting and carrying out any maintenance during the  next two, before getting back on the oars.

Integrated subsea services provider Hallin Marine, a Superior Energy  Services company, supported and sponsored ‘Team Hallin’ and many of its  staff personally contributed to the rowers’ chosen charity.

Team Hallin is well on course to raise its target of £60,000 for the  charity Combat Stress, which specialises in the care of service  veterans’ mental health, and has already passed the 40% mark, with more  than £25,000 being donated.