Director completes round-Britain row

Harwin has sponsored the record-breaking nonstop round-Britain GB Row Challenge - led by company director, Lt William de Laszlo.

Connector maker Harwin has always been proud to be based in Portsmouth, and has a history of supplying high reliability interconnect systems for demanding applications including naval, offshore and marine equipment.

Recently, the link with the sea has become even stronger, as the company has sponsored the record-breaking nonstop round-Britain GB Row Challenge - led by Harwin Director, Lt William de Laszlo.

The team completed the gruelling 3396km, five week row on 4th July, finishing at Tower Bridge in London.

This is the first time the feat has ever been achieved, and in the process, the team hopes to raise GBP 250 000 for the Outward Bound Trust (OB) and Leukaemia Research (Fergus Maclay Leukaemia Database).

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of The Outward Bound Trust and Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards (from which the team was drawn) met the team at the finish.

"The circumnavigation of Britain by four oarsmen is a remarkable achievement".

"It requires exceptional courage, determination and team work".

"I hope it will encourage all those who are taking their first steps in adventurous pursuits through Outward Bound courses to overcome novel challenges", he commented.

Will de Laszlo said: "We wanted to do something that had never been achieved before".

"Cape Wrath and the Irish Sea were low points with massive waves, very strong winds and very little drinking water".

"But we also had some amazing times - including rowing past a 24 foot basking shark as big as the boat - and seeing Britain from the outside makes you realise how beautiful this country is".

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