Vic’s on a voyage to ‘make the city and county proud’

In the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine, we catch up with Vic Handley as he prepares for an epic 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Vic, from Littleover, will become the third oldest person at the age of 70 to complete the solo row, known as ‘The World’s Toughest Row’.

The retired businessman will embark upon his epic voyage on December 12 as one of 39 boats – including just six solo craft – determined to complete what is considered one of sport’s most gruelling challenges, depending on the weather, in between 60 and 85 days.

The challenge, which will take him from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

Explaining why he has decided to take on such a challenge at his time of life, Vic tells Innovate: “I’m approaching my seventieth year now. I feel like I’m on the 15th or 16th hole of life, and when I get to the 19th, I want to look back and be proud that I have achieved everything I ever wanted to.

“That means my family, my work, my sport, my dreams, my ambitions. Put simply, I feel I just have to do this.”

In the feature, we find out a bit more about the man – and how he developed such a steely determination to succeed – something which was forged out of adversity from an early age.

We are also given an insight into Vic’s brutal training regime – driven along by a team including Royal Marine Commando Matt Mason, a vastly experienced ocean rower.

Vic tells Innovate: “Matt is well qualified and very, very thorough. He doesn’t hold back on me because I’m 69 and I like that.

“I have a lot to learn and practice so it all becomes second nature as it could save my life.”

But Vic is not just embarking on his epic rowing challenge to prove something to himself – he is also doing it for four local charities close to his heart – Umbrella, Derby County Community Trust, Safe and Sound and Mind Derbyshire.

When asked what he’s looking forward to most, Vic tells Innovate it is the sound of the canon that will announce his arrival in Antigua – and back into the arms of his family.

He said: “The feeling of euphoria is going to be beyond words, it really is. I want to feel that. I’m going to feel that. I’m going to make my city and county proud.”

To read the interview in full, click here.