Oceans of courage – and pride in his city

They say age is just a number – and Vic Handley is out to prove just that when he takes on an epic solo rowing challenge across the Atlantic Ocean.

At this year’s Annual Business Event, he spoke with Dean Jackson, the founder of sportswear firm HUUB, to talk about his participation in ‘The World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic’.

Organised by Atlantic campaigns, the challenge will see Vic row 3,000 miles from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands to Antigua, in the Caribbean, in his boat which is called City of Derby UK.

The challenge will take place this December when Vic will be 70 years old.

In conversation with Dean, Vic, a retired company director, said: “My initial aim was to complete the challenge safely – and that is still the case!

“But due to my competitive nature I’m going to go for a world record. To achieve the record, I need to complete it in under 64 days, which would require me to cover around 50 miles a day.

“I also want to make clear this is not an ‘attempt’ – I am going to row the Atlantic. Nothing is going to stop me from doing this.”

As well as being a great personal achievement, he hopes to not only raise cash for four charities close to his heart – Umbrella, Derby County Community Trust, Enthusiasm Trust and Mind Derbyshire – but also raise the profile of the city of Derby.

Vic, who was born and bred in Derby, said: “When it came to naming the boat, there was only one choice as far as I was concerned – and that was my beloved city.

“I want to use all the coverage the challenge attracts and take the city of Derby’s name around the world.

“I’m very proud of the city, of my football team Derby County – and what I’ve achieved so far.

“This is going to be the biggest challenge of my life – and I want to do it for my city.”

In his lifetime, Vic has tried many things – including white collar boxing aged 56 and competing in the British Indoor Rowing Championships.

And at 62, he became a player for Derby County’s walking football team – and then at 65, made his debut for the England Walking Football Community over 60’s team, which he eventually captained twice.

Vic said: “When I retired at the age of 62, I’d still got fire in my belly. I was still ambitious, I wanted to achieve things.

“No matter what your age, if you believe you can achieve. Never let your age hold you back from realising your ambitions and dreams.”

Vic is calling on the Bondholder community to back his challenge by sponsoring his boat.

To find out more about Vic and his rowing challenge visit https://vicsoloatlanticrow.com/ .