28/09/15
I’m driving to Bournemouth to Rossiter Yacht and Boat Makers.
Driving down a busy little high street, I’m worried I’m going to miss its location. But fear not, Rossiter has it’s own road named “Rossiter Quay.” The grand sign with gold writing directs me into an exclusive residential complex scattered with luxury boats and yachts.
In normal circumstances, I would feel out of place in somewhere like this, however on this occasion, me visiting the company owner, Charles Rossiter, feels exciting and even relaxed.
I’m going shopping for a £70,000 ocean rowing boat which is a pretty standard Monday activity I guess.
Teammate Matt has joined me for the adventure as he’s 3 Men & A Little Lady’s engineer and knows all the correct questions to ask. I, on the other hand do not.
Charles takes us straight out to the quay to show us the ocean rowing boats his team have built. Within an instant, we are stood in front of a fully functioning boat that is being used to row
Matt and I recognise a few boats sitting in the workshop from our research on the current rowing teams; All Beans No Monkeys and Atlantic Lions.
It feels fantastic to see the boats and they are bigger than what I expected.
Charles was great. He takes us through the price list of everything we will need to build our boat. It is by far the most expensive shopping list I have ever made!!! Matt understands all the details and is excited about all the gadgets we will need.
To top off the day, Charles takes us on board an ocean rowing boat and allows us in the 2 end cabins. These too, are bigger than what I first expected however he warns us that once they’re filled with technology and supplies,
The first thing that hits me about the cabin is the temperature, even on a warm sunny September day in the UK with the cabin door open it was warm!
After a couple of hours with Charles, we say our goodbyes. The day all seems so surreal. I’ve begun shopping for our ocean rowing boat.
Next step? R