Norman, left, testing the Spirit of Swindon in April

Norman Butler is not lost and is rowing strongly in the Spirit of Swindon

Swindon's intrepid Atlantic rower Norman Butler from Westlea is not lost, as reported in the Swindon Evening Advertiser on 11 October. Quite the contrary, he and a new rowing partner Phil Scantlebury are making steady progress in their boat The Spirit of Swindon, towards their goal in the Caribbean, and hope to arrive by Christmas.

Norman had planned for over two years to enter the Ward Evans Trans-Atlantic Challenge Race starting on 7 October from Tenerife, along with some forty other boats built by each team from standard kits. Unfortunately over the last year two of his partners have had to drop out. Norman had decided he would make a solo row, independent of the race, but met Phil when he arrived in the Canary Islands.

Phil Scantlebury, 40, from Poole, is an experienced rower and has done some open sea rowing. He and Norman know each other and have trained together within the last year.

The decision to share the load has pleased Linda Butler, who travelled to Tenerife on the spur of the moment to wave Norman off, with their new born daughter Melissa. She said, "I was very relieved that Phil was available to make the crossing. Their progress to Barbados will be much quicker; it would be lovely to think that we could meet up for Christmas.

"The people of La Gomera, an island next to Tenerife, were wonderful and gave Norman and Phil a lot of encouragement. The boat owners in the harbour organised a barbeque the day before they left, and a flotilla accompanied the Spirit of Swindon out into the ocean."

Norman and Linda have spoken on a satellite phone during the last week and she reports that:

• progress in the first few days has been slower than expected as the winds were against them
  
  
• on the second night they had to fire rocket flares to alert the crew of a freighter which was coming too close to them
  
  
• Norman has been seasick, but had found his sealegs. Now both men are suffering from nappy rash from the chaffing of salt water on their rowing seats

Commenting on the Evening Advertiser story, Linda said, "I am very disappointed that the Evening Advertiser should print such an incorrect story. It is both misleading and untruthful, and just causes confusion for people who know Norman, and wish the Spirit of Swindon well."

The Spirit of Swindon is equipped with the full safety kit as specified by the Ward Evans race organisers. The boat also has a rescue beacon to alert Falmouth coastguard in case of extreme emergency.

The Spirit of Swindon is fitted with a satellite transponder and can be tracked at www.oceanrowing.com