Lochinver Atlantic rower to be reunited with his boat
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The intrepid Lochinver man who was attempting to row across the Atlantic, but had to be rescued, is to be finally re-united with his abandoned boat.
Duncan Hutchison's boat Sleipnir miraculously turned up in Norway in March, nearly six months after he was forced to leave it.
Mr Hutchison survived mountainous seas, brutal storms and even a shark attacking his home-made boat.
He was picked up by the 590-ft long tanker Asphalt Splendor on September 22 after Sleipnir's vital on board electrics failed.
The rescue came on Mr Hutchison's 100th day at sea and 863 miles from Land's End.
His 23ft boat was lost at sea after the tanker's tow rope broke.
But then months later Mr Hutchison received news that the boat had made it across the Atlantic without him!
It had washed ashore at Sømna near Brønnoysund in Norway.
Now it is being shipped back to Lochinver and is due to arrive - via Peterhead – soon. It had been hoped to arrive this weekend, but didn’t make its cargo ship on time.
An excited Mr Hutchison has already made new oars and a horse figurehead for his beloved boat.
His wife Marianne said her husband was planning to visit Sømna sometime to thank the people who looked after Sleipnir.
He also wanted to thank Bill Smith from Ellon in Aberdeenshire for his help in getting the boat back home.
"Duncan is going to make it seaworthy again and is pretty excited about getting it back. It needs a lot of repairs though," said Mrs Hutchison.
"I don't know if he will give it another go to row across the Atlantic. It's a huge financial commitment. Duncan's going to fix the boat first and take it from there."
Mr Hutchison previously said he will make another attempt if his beloved abandoned boat was found and he could raise the £10,000 to mount the bid.
* Mr Hutchison is to be Chieftain of Assynt Highland Games on Friday, August 9.
