Wilkins’ cross-ocean journey meets small delay

After some slight delays in Morocco, Thunder Bay author Charles Wilkins is set to leave on his journey of a lifetime. 

Wilkins and his team of 16 rowers are rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, starting at midnight Monday, in a specially-built catamaran. 

The 61-year-old author is planning to write a book about the once-in-a-lifetime experience. The team and their vessel, named Big Blue, was originally scheduled to push off from the Moroccan coast on Saturday. 

But delays pushed the launch back another 72 hours.  

The team is rowing all the way to Barbados in hopes of breaking the current cross-Atlantic record of 35 days. The participants will row around the clock in two-hour shifts. 

Wilkins, speaking on Monday from Morocco, said he's expecting the journey will take its toll on him. 

Wilkins' team also include former Thunder Bay resident, Dr. Steve Roedde and his son Nigel, a Lakehead University graduate. 

Three other teams are also attempting to break the cross-Atlantic record. You can follow the adventure online at ROCexpedition.com, or at Oceanrowing.com.