Fernandina rower Paul Lore, Dawn Smith secure three world records

Fernandina Beach resident Paul Lore and British ocean rower Dawn Smith have officially secured three world records from their grueling North Atlantic crossing from Newfoundland to the United Kingdom, Row Aurora announced Wednesday.

Lore and Smith became the first mixed pair to row the Atlantic Ocean from west to east, completing the official crossing in 48 days, 7 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds aboard their ocean-rowing boat, Penny B.

Smith also extended two records of her own. The crossing was her seventh ocean row — the most ever completed by a woman — and increased her career distance to 16,815 miles, the greatest total distance rowed by a woman.

The announcement also clarified uncertainty surrounding the end of the expedition.

Lore and Smith stopped rowing after crossing the longitude of Bishop Rock, near England’s Isles of Scilly, and received assistance before reaching harbor. At the time, they were reported to have ended their attempt about eight miles short of their intended destination following an exhausting battle against tides and difficult conditions.

Row Aurora said Bishop Rock — not the harbor — was the official finish line for the record attempt. Tracking data showed Penny B crossed that line without assistance.

“What happened after Bishop Rock made absolutely no difference to their crossing or record statistics,” Row Aurora said. “They had already done it. The Atlantic had been crossed.”

Crossing the longitude of Bishop Rock is the recognized finish for North Atlantic rows departing from St. John’s, Newfoundland. The Ocean Rowing Society International serves as the official adjudicator of ocean-rowing records.

Lore and Smith spent 49 days living aboard Penny B, with the official clock running from their departure until they crossed the Bishop Rock finish line.

During the unsupported voyage, they endured freezing temperatures, fog, storms, headwinds, broken oars, wet clothing and severely disrupted sleep. At times, they were forced to deploy a para-anchor and wait for conditions to improve.

The expedition also raised money and awareness for veterans’ causes on both sides of the Atlantic. Lore and Smith supported Phoenix Heroes CIC, a British organization that assists veterans and their families through outdoor activities and community programs, and Florida-based K9s For Warriors, which provides trained service dogs to veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma.

Their fundraising campaign set a goal of $50,000 for veterans’ charities. The row also supported Penny’s Flight Foundation, which funds research and awareness efforts related to neurofibromatosis.

The North Atlantic crossing completed the final leg of the pair’s “Hometown Row,” an expedition designed to connect Fernandina Beach with Smith’s home community in Essex, England.

The journey began with a row from the Canary Islands to Antigua, followed by a second leg from Antigua toward Fernandina Beach and the concluding passage from Newfoundland to Britain.

Lore and Smith had already set a record during the first leg by becoming the fastest mixed pair to row from the Canary Islands to Antigua.

Lore, an ocean photographer and nonprofit director, is a Fernandina Beach resident. Smith, who holds the British Empire Medal for her charitable work and ocean-rowing achievements, previously held the women’s record with five ocean crossings before extending it to six and now seven.

“Dawn and Paul didn’t just row home from Canada,” Row Aurora said. “They made history.”