Barnacle Bill Magazine March 2016 issue 3 | Page 6

6 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.