Former Marine set to break world rowing record after 300 days alone at sea

Dave “Dinger” Bell, 54, left Lima, Peru on November 9 last year, and has since crossed the Pacific, navigated the Coral Sea and Torres Strait, rounded northern Australia and rowed deep into the Indian Ocean without stopping or resupplying.

Now, he’s less than 900 nautical miles from completing his journey in Kilifi, Kenya, which he believes he could reach in 12 to 17 days.

If successful, Bell, who was previously stationed at HM Condor, Arbroath, with 45 Commando, will become the first person to row solo, non-stop and unsupported across two oceans from South America to Africa, while also smashing the existing ocean-rowing distance record.

READ MORE: The rowing Maclean brothers sign book deal following epic Pacific adventure

The current Guinness World Record for longest non-stop solo ocean row is currently Jacob Adoram Hendrickson who rowed 7,145 direct miles across the Pacific.

But despite storms, salt sores and days rowing for up to 12 hours, Bell said one of the hardest moments came right at the very beginning, when his partner Georgie followed him away from the yacht club in Peru for around 45 minutes before eventually turning back.

“I remember the last time she looked back at me and it absolutely killed me”, said Bell, who now lives in Bere Regis in Dorset.

“The first few weeks were terrible and I really struggled with the pointlessness of it all… why am I doing this and why am I doing this to both of us?

READ MORE: SNP government ‘not doing enough to help veterans’, says report

“We’ve both struggled with the separation, but when I’m making good progress. I know every mile is getting me closer to seeing her. We’re through the worst of it now and we’re both getting very excited about seeing each other again.”

The toughest section, he said, came in the Coral Sea, after a route carefully planned around two cyclone seasons.

Bell said: “The Coral Sea kicked my ar**. I took a knockdown which brought water into the boat, the electrics were damaged, I was covered in salt sores and ended up on antibiotics.

“Then I was going into this incredibly tidal area and rowing for 16 hours at a time. By the end of it I was emotionally fried and physically broken.”

The ex-Marine, who served for 20 years, has had no support boat and no opportunity to replace supplies, said: “The training you do in the Marines is designed to push you to the point where you think you can’t go on. It teaches you there is normally more left in the tank than you think.

“In the Marines you’re also used to being self-sufficient and managing with what’s on your back. Here, I manage with what’s on the boat. When something breaks, you either repair it or work out how to manage without it.”

The expedition is raising money for Rock2Recovery, which supports members of the Armed Forces, veterans, emergency service personnel and their families. Bell has previously spoken about the close friends of his who have been killed, and those who have lost limbs and are suffering mentally.

Despite nearing the end of a challenge which has consumed almost a year of his life, Bell has no plans to turn himself into a professional adventurer.

He said: “I can’t wait to go back to normal life. I’ve got planning permission for what is basically a glorified shed in the back garden which needs some attention, but mostly I just want to get home and spend time with Georgie.”

“I already know I’ll miss the ocean when this finishes though. I might do another one, one day, but I’ll be on the crew with someone else…maybe Georgie and I will row an ocean together one day.”

To donate to Bell’s fundraising adventure, visit Rock2Recovery