Leven Brown
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Leven Brown (born 14 August 1972) is a British Ocean Rower who has held five
Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
. He along with his crew Don Lennox,
Livar Nysted Livar Nysted (born 27 September 1970) is an Ocean rowing, ocean rower and painter. Career Faroese Champion in Ocean Rowing in Fjords and Sounds (Kappróður) Livar Nysted has won the Faroese Championship in outdoor rowing three times: in 20 ...
and Ray Carroll also held the world record for "longest distance rowed in 24h in an ocean rowing boat" at 118 miles, is the first and thus far only in the sport ever to have held North and '
Trade Winds The trade winds or easterlies are permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region. The trade winds blow mainly from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere ...
' (Mid
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
) speed records simultaneously and to hold two speed records over two separate oceans (
North Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for ...
and
Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...
) Brown was brought up on a landlocked farm in his native
Scottish Borders The Scottish Borders is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west, South Lanarkshire to the we ...
but was introduced to the ocean at an early age where he discovered
ocean rowing Ocean rowing is the sport of rowing across oceans. Some ocean rowing boats can hold as many as fourteen rowers; however, the most common ocean rowboats are designed for singles, doubles, and fours. The history of ocean rowing is divided into two ...
. After a career with Brewin Dolphin Securities that spanned 17 years he did his first Ocean Row in 2005.


2005 First Expedition 'The Columbus Run' Cadiz - Tobago

On the first expedition Brown set off solo on 14 August 2005 on a journey. He spent a total of 123 days at sea and covered 4278 miles. There were four named storms on Brown's first voyage: Vince, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta. 2005 was the busiest hurricane season on record. Brown supported 'The Sportsman's Charity' and the Edinburgh 'One City Trust' on this voyage. Brown received a Guinness world record for being the first person to row from mainland Spain to the West Indies.


2007/8 Mid Atlantic - Gran Canaria - Barbados Expedition - speed record

2007/8 - Brown's second voyage was as skipper with a 14-man crew on a 50 ft ocean rowing boat called ''La Mondiale''. He and his crew rowed 3000 miles from Gran Canaria to Barbados in 33 days 7 hours 30 minutes beating the record of that time. Several charities were represented by the crew. The previous record was set by a French team in 1992 of 35 days 8 hours 30 minutes in the same boat.


2009 Mid Atlantic - Gran Canaria - Barbados Expedition - speed record attempt

2009 - The third voyage in La Mondiale was cut short by the irreparable damage to the rudder after a collision with an unknown submerged object. The 14 crew were evacuated safely onto a passing ship ''Island Ranger'' but the boat was lost presumed sunk some 1000 miles from the
Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
. Several charities were represented by the crew.


2010 North Atlantic USA, New York - Isles of Scilly, UK Expedition - speed record

2010 - The North Atlantic, Brown's fourth voyage. As skipper he picked his crew, all of which he had rowed oceans with before, Don Lennox (Scotland),
Livar Nysted Livar Nysted (born 27 September 1970) is an Ocean rowing, ocean rower and painter. Career Faroese Champion in Ocean Rowing in Fjords and Sounds (Kappróður) Livar Nysted has won the Faroese Championship in outdoor rowing three times: in 20 ...
(
Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...
), Ray Carroll (Ireland). They were attempting to beat the long-standing North Atlantic speed record set in 1896 by Norwegians
Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo Frank Samuelsen (26 February 1870 – 1946) and George Harbo (14 September 1864 – 1909) were Norwegian-Americans who in 1896 became the first people ever to row across an ocean. Their time record for rowing the North Atlantic Ocean was no ...
which had stood at 55 days 7 hours for some 114 years. Their boat ''Artemis Investments'' left
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
on 17 June 2010 and arrived in St Mary's on 31 July 2010 in a time of 43 days 21 hours 26 minutes and 48 seconds. Which remains the record to date for the North Atlantic. During their voyage they were capsized twice in storms.


2013 Mid Atlantic Gran Canaria - Barbados Expedition - speed record attempt - maiden voyage ''Avalon''

2013 - The Trade Winds Route, Puerto Mogan, Gran Canaria to Port St Charles, Barbados, 3000 miles. Leven Brown skippered his new ocean rowing racing boat ''Avalon'', with a crew of eight. He set the fastest team time that year narrowly beating rival boat ''Titan''. Brown's time was 35 days 12 hours 41 minutes. Several charities were represented by the crew.


2014 Geraldton, Australia - Seychelles, Africa Expedition - speed record - Indian Ocean

2014 - The Indian Ocean - 4579 Miles Rowed From Geraldton, Australia to Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Crew of seven. Brown's first mixed crew. Set two more world records - Speed record across the Indian Ocean 57 days 10 hours 58 minutes - with an average speed of 2.65 knots. Brown's original intention was to go for Durban, South Africa however early in the voyage a set of three storms knocked them too far north to make this landfall. They then changed course to head for Mombasa in Kenya but owing to rising terrorism the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommended no travel to
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
. They then changed course and landed on the
Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, ...
. Brown had to evacuate Dr Shane Usher due to him being severely burned by boiling water mid ocean reducing the crew down to six. A critical steering cable broke on ''Avalon'' which forced the crew to manually steer the boat which reduced the rowing deck down to two rowers per shift - half what it is meant to be. On the way into the Seychelles they had an incident with a suspected pirate vessel. Brown bluffed that they were in fact a
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
'Q' boat and that they were rendezvousing with their frigate in 30 minutes. The suspected pirate vessel then fled. This was called his ' Captain Phillips' moment. Brown supported
Save the Elephants Save the Elephants (STE) was founded in 1993 by Iain Douglas-Hamilton Iain Douglas-Hamilton (born 16 August 1942) is a Scottish zoologist from Oxford University and one of the world's foremost authorities on the African elephant. In 1993 ...
as a charity.


2015 Mid Atlantic Gran Canaria - Barbados Expedition - speed record attempt - boat ''Avalon''

2015 - The Trade Winds Route, Puerto Mogan,
Gran Canaria Gran Canaria (, ; ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, a Spain, Spanish archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa. the island had a population of that constitut ...
to Port St Charles,
Barbados Barbados, officially the Republic of Barbados, is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and the easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American ...
, 3000 miles. Leven Brown Skippered Ocean Rowing racing boat ''Avalon'' again, with a crew of eight. Six men and two women including Thato Mabelane who became the first African woman to row an ocean. It was the most international crew Brown had Skippered containing five nationalities including South Africa, Brazilian, Irish, English, and Scots. The crossing was marred by steering failure again within the first 24 hours but they managed to manually steer for the entire course. The boat's rudder was attacked by a
great white shark The great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias''), also known as the white shark, white pointer, or simply great white, is a species of large Lamniformes, mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major ocea ...
estimated to be 4 – 5 m in length. There was little damage. The Voyage took 43days 12hours 55 mins. In the final approach the ''Avalon'' was blown out to sea by gale force winds 2 miles from Port St Charles, Barbados and was towed into calmer waters to finish. The crew rowed circa 3250 miles. Leven Brown became only the second man in history to cross two different oceans in a rowing boat within a year - the first being his great friend, fellow rower and teammate
Livar Nysted Livar Nysted (born 27 September 1970) is an Ocean rowing, ocean rower and painter. Career Faroese Champion in Ocean Rowing in Fjords and Sounds (Kappróður) Livar Nysted has won the Faroese Championship in outdoor rowing three times: in 20 ...
- Brown did the Indian Ocean In June 2014 and the Atlantic in January 2015. Brown again supported the '
Save the Elephants Save the Elephants (STE) was founded in 1993 by Iain Douglas-Hamilton Iain Douglas-Hamilton (born 16 August 1942) is a Scottish zoologist from Oxford University and one of the world's foremost authorities on the African elephant. In 1993 ...
' charity.


2016 Partial Atlantic Crossing - Brown was called to join one of his friends, Steve Murphy, who was in trouble during the Atlantic Rowing Race

La Gomera La Gomera () is one of Spain's Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. With an area of , it is the third-smallest of the archipelago's eight main islands. It belongs to the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. La Gomer ...
to English Harbour,
Antigua Antigua ( ; ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the local population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the most populous island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua ...
, 3000 miles. He joined 34 days into the voyage approximately 300 miles into the race. The whole voyage was 80 days 20h 39mins. Brown was dropped off via the race Support boat and almost drowned getting to 'Layla' because of a corroded safety clip which trapped him under the boat when trying to reach Murphy.


Other information

Brown is a fully qualified RYA/MCA
yachtmaster A Yachtmaster qualification is a certificate of competence of the ability to handle either a sailing boat or motor boat (as endorsed) in certain prescribed conditions. Three different titles are specified; Yachtmaster Coastal (previously - and i ...
and runs his own expedition and rowing services company as well as undertaking yacht deliveries throughout the world. Leven was nominated for the National Geographic Adventurer Awards and was nominated for a
Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award Glenfiddich distillery () is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in the Scottish burgh of Dufftown in Moray, Scotland. Is owned by William Grant & Sons. The name Glenfiddich derives from the Scottish Gaelic ''Gleann Fhiodhaic ...
as well as being awarded the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh for his achievements. - Yorkshire Post Newspaper
/ref>


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Leven Sinclair 1972 births Living people Sportspeople from the Scottish Borders Ocean rowers Scottish male rowers