Famous rowing boat for Sicily-Malta challenge

An ocean-going rowing boat which has crossed the Atlantic twice and found its way into the Guinness Book of Records, will be used for a charity fund-raising crossing between Sicily and Malta starting on June 19.

Daniel Abela will row the wooden 450 kilo craft single-handedly in aid of the Puttinu Children’s Cancer Support Group and Beyond the Moon programme.

The challenge, supported by the Vodafone Malta Foundation, is being held in order to raise funds for a dream holiday for terminally sick children and their parents.

Mr Abela said it was appropriate that the boat was called Carpe Diem – seize the day – which he hoped he would enable the terminally ill children to do.

He is no stranger to fund-raising challenges.

“A couple of years ago I started an initiative to raise funds while doing stunts which some may find extreme, or amusing,” he said. “This year, I will attempt to row single-handedly from Sicily to Malta - a stretch of 100 kilometres. I expect to be at sea from three to four days at sea. “

Daniel will take his rowing boat from Pozzallo, Sicily, to the Valletta Waterfront.

Built in 1997 in Bossums Boatyard in Oxfordshire , the boat was rowed from Tenerife to Barbados in 1997 with the first and only Mother and Son team, making its way into the records book. It was later raced from La Gomera to Barbados in 2004.

The boat was made available to Daniel Abela by the Ocean Rowing Society and was shipped to Malta courtesy of Express Trailers. The craft will be put to sea tomorrow for Mr Abela to embark on the last phase of what, he admitted, has been a grueling training regime.

Grace Spiteri, mother of 14-year old Margaret who passed away recently following her fight against leukaemia, recalled how happy Margaret was during her holiday in Florida, US, made possible through Puttinu Cares and Beyond the Moon. “Margaret lived again for 5 days in Florida. She completely forgot about her terminal illness and lived her dream to the full. We couldn’t give Margaret this holiday without the support we got and, whilst thanking the Vodafone Malta Foundation for embarking in such an initiative, we encourage everyone to help us collect money for our children.”

The public is being asked to make donations payable to either Puttinu Childrens’ Cancer Support Group or Beyond the Moon and sent to Daniel Abela, 217/1, 21st September Avenue, Naxxar NXR 1013.