Ray Carroll facts for kids
Ray Carroll, born in 1977, is a famous rower from Irish. He is known for his incredible journey across the Atlantic Ocean. He grew up in Salthill, a town in Galway, Ireland.
Ray Carroll: An Ocean Rower
Ray Carroll is an amazing Irish rower. He was born in 1977. Ray is famous for being part of a team that rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. This incredible journey set a new world record.
Setting a World Record
In August 2010, Ray Carroll and his team made history. They were a four-man crew. Their boat was named Artemis Investments. Ray's teammates were Leven Brown, Don Lennox, and Livar Nysted.
They started their journey from New York City on June 17, 2010. They rowed three thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Their goal was to reach the Scilly Isles near England.
The team set a new record for rowing across the Atlantic. They finished the journey in just forty-three days, twenty-one hours, twenty-six minutes, and forty-eight seconds. This was faster than the old record from 1896. That record was set by two Norwegian rowers, George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen.
Early Life and Rowing
Ray Carroll started rowing when he was just eleven years old. He joined the rowing team at Colaiste Iognaid, also known as 'the Jes', in Galway.
He competed for Ireland in many big events. These included a Junior World Championship and a European Championship. He also took part in a World Student Games.
After finishing school, Ray became a marine engineer. This means he worked with engines on ships. He sailed in the merchant navy for twelve years. The merchant navy is made up of ships that carry goods and people around the world.
Helping Others
Ray Carroll also uses his rowing to help others. In 2007, he joined Leven Brown and Don Lennox on another Atlantic journey. This time, they were on a boat called La Mondiale.
Ray has raised a lot of money for important charities. He raised over €90,000 for Aware, a charity that helps people with depression. He also chose to support Jigsaw. Jigsaw is a special service in Galway that helps young people aged 15 to 25. They offer free and private support for their mental well-being. Ray was inspired to support these causes by personal experiences.
