Three Scots brothers who are rowing across the Atlantic will celebrate Hogmanay with a dram of whisky and bagpipe music on the ocean waves.
The MacLeans – Lachlan, Jamie and Ewan – are more than halfway through their 3000-mile journey after setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 12.
The team, named Broar, are expected to arrive in Antigua in the Caribbean before the end of January and hope to raise more than £250,000 for charities Feedback Madagascar and Children First.
They hope to become the fastest trio in history to row the Atlantic in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
But tonight, Lachlan, 21, Jamie, 26, and Ewan, 27, will take a break from the oars to enjoy a dram of a special blend created by their father, whisky expert Charles MacLean, and Jamie will play bagpipes.
Ewan, a product design engineer for Dyson, said: “Spirits are high but the toughest thing now is trying to keep morale up. We’re suffering on the oars for 16 hours a day, with very little sleep.
“We’ve faced dehydration, power issues and some horrendous weather – but it’s little things like a wee dram at New Year and taking a moment to play music together that keep us going.
“We have learned a lot about ourselves and each other, mostly the need to be stronger than our excuses.”
The boys took time out to enjoy a can of Tennent’s on Christmas Day and are looking forward to their whisky at the Bells.
Charles said he is very proud of his boys and speaks to them regularly via satellite phone.
He added: “They have had their ups and downs but morale has remained high. They are in good shape both physically and mentally.
“I am terribly proud of them, it is such an endeavour.”
● To donate to the team’s fundraising effort, visit www.broar.co.uk
