Page 2 - link magazine

2 The Link Magazine • October 2001
Spirit of Swindon carries best wishes from twin town Salzgitter

Westlea rower plans solo 3,000 mile Atlantic crossing
New dad Norman Butler, 37, from Millicent, who married Norman feet at its widest point,
Benwell Close, Westlea is now in and Linda last year. the mayors saw how
Tenerife making last minute At a community send off organ- vulnerable he will be
preparations for an epic three ised by The Link at the West Swin- from mountainous
month 3,000 mile row across the don Centre on 1 September, Nor- seas, passing whales
Atlantic in his self-built boat the man was surprised to be presented and the danger of be-
Spirit of Swindon. with a flag by the Mayor of ing run down by ships.
His three year dream to take part Salzgitter, Herr Rudi Rueckert, ac- There is a small rest
in the Ward Evans Atlantic Chal- companied by the Mayor of Swin- cabin, but all supplies
lenge started to come unstuck in don councillor David Cox. will have to be stowed
late July when his second rowing Norman gave the mayors a on board as Norman
partner pulled out. But undeterred guided tour of the Spirit, which he will be totally unas-
Norman decided that he would do has built from a standard kit sup- sisted. He has a satel-
it alone. plied by race organisers The Chal- lite telephone and res-
Norman also became a father on lenge Business, headed by Sir Chay cue will be available
9 September, the day before a bless- Blythe who rowed across the At- in an extreme emer-
ing of the boat conducted by Rev lantic in 1966. gency.
Peter Knight, of All Saint's, Lydiard At 23 feet long and just over 6 If he was in the race, R ev Peter Knight, with Norman
the trans-Atlantic and Sir Maurice Johnston
Toasting the Spirit with champagne provided by the West Swindon Centre,
from right, coun Cox, Norman, Detlef Engster, chief executive of Stadt crossing would take show that an ordinary working
Salzgitter, Linda Butler, Herr Rudi Rueckert, Mayor's partner Jenni Dean between 70 and 90 days. On his
own and taking time off to rest, person can set extraordinary goals
Norman may not arrive until the and work hard to achieve them.
New Year. "It is a great pity that I no longer
He said, "I took up rowing five have a partner to take part, but I
years ago, inspired by the Olym- feel I can do it on my own."
pic gold medal success of Steve Norman has had a team of pro-
Redgrave, who subsequently be- fessional advisors who have
came my patron, along with the helped him prepare physically and
Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sir mentally for the endurance of be-
Morris Johnson. ing at sea for three to four months.
"I read about the first Atlantic So far, he has raised £60,000 in
race in 1997 and it was a challenge business sponsorship, from fund-
I had to take up. I feel I have under- raising events, personal donations
achieved in my past and wanted to Story continued opposite