The Havasi-Szabó Ocean-Rowing Pair Has Set Sail
Text: defence.hu / MTI | Photo: Gergő Havasi’s Facebook page | 12:07 January 7, 2025Reservist Corporal Gergő Havasi has set sail in Tenerife to cross the Atlantic Ocean. With his partner, Norbert Ádám Szabó, they intend to break the world record in crossing the ocean by rowing.
Gergő Havasi, military athlete of the HDF Sports Company, and his partner plan to cover the 5200 km distance between Tenerife – one of the Canary Islands – and Antigua by taking three-hour turns in rowing in an ocean rowing pair boat without using an engine or outside help.
The 29-year-old kayaker Havasi was persuaded by one of his fellow sportsmen to participate in the expedition three years ago, however, the mastermind exited the project in the meantime. Norbert Ádám Szabó joined him in August, he has experience in ocean rowing, has been sailing the seas for 15 years and kayaked across the Atlantic Ocean with Levente Kovácsik in 2015.
The Hungarian pair starts the journey with a more than seven metres long and two metres wide boat, the design and building of which was helped by Gábor Rakonczay, who left the Canary Islands in a canoe two weeks ago, on 24 December, and at his last check-in, he was at 636.5 km. Therefore, two Hungarian units are trying to cross the ocean at the same time.
The pair ocean rowing record has been set by a duet from New Zealand to 40 days 5 hours and 31 minutes between La Gomera – also one of the Canary Islands – and Barbados. If you are interested, you might follow the boat’s journey via the link accessible on Gergő Havasi’s Facebook page.
