Barnacle Bill Magazine March 2016 issue 3 | Page 6
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Kenneth Crutchlow
1944-2016
We are very sad to learn of the death of Kenneth
Crutchlow, Executive Director of the Ocean Rowing Society who lost his brave battle against stomach cancer on the 4th February 2016. Kenneth was
described as the godfather of Ocean Rowing.
Kenneth founded the ORS in 1983 with ocean
rower Peter Bird and dedicated himself, with his
wife Tatiana to the documenting and championing of attempts to row the oceans. His support and
encouragement of multiple record holder, Peter
Bird (the youngest and first person to row the Pacific Ocean and the Longest Distance Rowed in a
career) was particularly notable,
Kenneth’s formation of the Ocean Rowing Society not only created at formal structure for recording international records and attempts but went a long way in improving safety. communications and bringing rowers
together to make attempts in groups rather than as solo boats
Although not a rower himself, Kenneth was a larger than life character who had several adventures behind him
including a round the world hitch-hiking trip in 1965 which took 7 years and took in 60 countries. In 1970 he
crossed the USA by car from New York to LA and then cycled from Glendale to Mexico. In 1974 he became
the first person to run across the 146 miles of Death Valley and was also the first person to run the 500 miles
from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He also imported a fleet of London taxis into California and set up a cab
company.
It was whilst living in California in the early 1970s that Kenneth first became interested in Ocean rowing falling
under the spell of John Fairfax, the first man to solo row the Atlantic. In 1974 Kenneth coordinated the departure of Fairfax and Sylvia Cook in their successful attempt to become the first people to row the Pacific Ocean.
Kenneth will be greatly missed by the sport he did so much to establish.
Right: One of Kenneth’s many
adventures was being the first
person to run the 146 miles of
Death Valley, Kenneth did this
in 1976.