Mike rows 5,000km across the Atlantic Ocean

AN experienced member of the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit was honoured with a civic reception at University of Limerick’s White House last April for completing a 5,000km row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Mike Jones, who was part of an international crew of six who completed the gruelling trip, became the first member of the Irish Coast Guard Unit and the seventh Irishman to achieve this feat.
The voyage, which took 57 days and 20 hours, started from the Port de Plaisance Marina in Agadir on January 7 last and finished in Port St Charles, Barbados.
Two charities, Milford Care Centre, Limerick and Marymont Hospice, Cork, benefited from Mike’s adventure.
Having set a target to raise €25,000, half of the money raised went to the charities and the remainder towards covering the cost of the trip, which was expected to be in the region of €15,000.
Mike, who also works as full-time operations manager with the University of Limerick Activity Centre (ULAC) at Ballycuggeran, Killaloe, joined the crew of five men and one woman, which was skippered by Matt Craughwell, United Kingdom and also included Mylène Paquette, Canada; Pedro Cunha, Sweden; Peter Williams, Cork and James Kenworthy, England.
A keen outdoor enthusiast, sailor and adventurer, he applied for the crew even though he had never rowed before.
“I’d had the idea in mind for a few years but I figured I’d have a year or two to learn how to row, however, the opportunity came up and it seemed like the right time.
“I am delighted to have completed this challenge and I have to say I enjoyed almost every moment of it. There were so many highs and of course some lows but it was an amazing experience and something I am delighted to have achieved,” he said.