Philip L Als
The North-West Passage Ocean Row 2023
OUTSTANDING PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
In 2003, Philip Als rowed into the history books and the Guinness Book of Records by becoming one of the first Barbadian ocean rowers to successfully cross the Atlantic in the 2003 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge.
Along with fellow rower Randal Valdez, the Barbadian rowing duo “Team Rowing Home”, undertook the 3,000 nautical mile row across the Atlantic, starting in La Gomera in the Canary Islands.
After 43 days, 14 hours and 17 minutes on the ocean, the team rowed into Port St. Charles, Barbados on 01 December 2003 to a rapturous reception from proud Barbadians who had followed their epic journey. Als and Valdez placed third (3rd) in the race out of sixteen (16) teams, earning them a Guinness World Record.
A sportsman at heart, Als represented Barbados from 1984 in windsurfing before going professional in Europe, USA and the Caribbean. He also coached the Barbados Windsurfing team for the 2000 Sidney Olympics. Upon his return he and his Barbadian teammates were the IPSC Caribbean Pistol champions earning him a gold medal. With his competitive nature, Philip set out to prepare for the 2003 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race from La Gomera to Port St. Charles, Barbados.
In 2023, still possessing that inner driving spirit, Als faced the greatest challenge of his sporting career, to attempt rowing across the Northwest passage.
Als joined an expedition team comprising of crew from different parts of the world, to cross the Northwest passage via the Artic route that links the Atlantic and the Pacific.
In 2023, they commenced their journey from Pond Inlet and concluded in Cambridge Bay in the Artic. This tortuous journey saw temperatures in the region of -40 degrees Celsius with wind speed in excess of 30 miles per hour while the team took turns rowing 2 hour shifts under gruelling conditions.
Phil will go down in history as ………. the first Barbadian to row the Artic and the oldest person to row the Artic in 2023.