Thortnon Hall Hotel played host to a special charity event when two firemen who rowed naked across the Atlantic gave a thrilling talk about their journey.
Neil Gyllenship and Dean Jagger completed the gruelling 75-day journey from La Gomera to Antigua earlier this year to raise money for Claire House children’s hospice.
The pair visited the four-star Wirral hotel – which also subsidised the event – to give a talk about their achievement and take part in a question and answer session with 200 guests.
Neil, 35, from Parkgate, and rowing partner Dean, 41, from Mirfield, launched from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 4th January. Throughout the 3,000 mile journey they were completely self-sufficient, relying on military rations, desalinated water, sun lotion and plenty of Sudocrem to get them through.
Neither Neil nor Dean had any rowing experience, but were driven to take part in the Woodvale Ocean Rowing Challenge after a visit to the Merseyside hospice.
Neil said: “We read about the plight of Claire House and the need for fundraisers so decided to pay the children a visit. After that it was more a question of ‘How can we do nothing to help?’ We decided to commit to raising £100,000 and the rowing challenge was the first step to achieve that target.
“We had to undergo a lot of courses such as sea survival and navigation before the journey. We decide to row naked to avoid chaffing and salt water sores. It was gruelling, doing one hour on and off during the days and two hours on and off at night.
“When we got back Claire House said a lot of people were interested in our journey so they asked us to take part in this charity question and answer evening. I thought there would be about 20 people but there were more than 200 and the response was amazing.
“We even took the boat along as it played such a big part in getting us across the Atlantic safely!”
Neil and Dean both work for Manchester Airport’s fire department and were given special dispensation to take four months off for the charity challenge.
Neil added: “Next we are hoping to climb the UK’s four highest peaks and also to cycle non-stop from Lands End to John O’Groats. The record is four days and we’re aiming to beat it.”
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