Romanian Andrei Rosu, the man who finished some of the hardest races in the world, including the Arch to Arc triathlon, aims to also become the first Romanian to row over the Atlantic.

He has started to gather a team of four to compete in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the toughest rowing race in the world, scheduled for December 2017. They would be the first Romanian team to ever participate in this competition.

Rosu has already selected his first two team mates, doctor Vasile Osean and former rower Emil Curteanu, and the three are now looking for the fourth member of their crew, whom they will select in a national competition.

“It’s a race of about 5,200 km that will start on December 12, 2017. Depending on weather conditions, the start can change by several days. Our journey will follow the route La Gomera (Canary Islands) to Antigua (Caribbean),” said Andrei Rosu.

The Romanians’ participation in the race also has a humanitarian purpose: to raise money for Hospice Casa Sperantei NGO, which plans to develop a socio-cultural center for children in Copaceni commune, Ilfov county.

A total of 30 teams from around the world are to participate in this race, Andrei Rosu said.

Those interested in becoming the fourth member of the Romanian team can register on the event’s website by June 15. The ten semifinalists will be selected by June 24, and the final is scheduled to take place on August 15.

The first edition of Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge was organized in 1997. Since then, the competition has been gathering teams from all over the world in a dramatic race across the world’s second largest ocean, the Atlantic. The current crossing record is 37 days, whereas the longest race took 120 days.

Andrei Rosu is also one of three Romanians who finished the 6633 Ultra, the world's hardest ultramarathon, alongside Vlad Tanase and Tiberiu Useriu. Useriu won the race, which took place in March this year.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Atlantic4.ro)