Fair Friendship Exchange
When Barry Davis, President 2025-26, sent our pennant to the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA on board a boat rowed across the Atlantic by Dawn Smith and Paul Lore (a member of the Florida Club) in late 2025, the deal was that they would return to Burnham to present us with the Fernandina flag.
Some 5,800 rowing miles later – east to west and then west to east across the Atlantic, both ways in world record times – the deal is completed on 2nd September 2026.
Chris Nutt (President 2026-27), Dawn Smith, Paul Lore and Barry Davis meet for the handover in Ye Olde White Harte 2 Sept 2026. These are the Pennants.
HEROES
As Dawn Smith and rowing partner Paul Lore rowed up the Crouch to the Burnham Sailing Club pontoon, accompanied by a flotilla of welcoming craft, the time approached to complete her Hometown Row. And what an occasion it was.
Even the heavens opened, dead on time, at 1pm, Saturday 29th August, with a heavy deluge and gale at the end of what was a world-record-breaking venture, east to west and then west to east across the Atlantic – both ways in world record times.
As they made their way along the pontoon to the music and singing of ‘We are the champions’, nearing the bandstand – amazingly – they had the energy and stimulus to dance for the performance by Elixir Band. And then put on a show of rowing to the music – to the great amusement of the large audience defying the tempest.
Even the heavens opened, dead on time, at 1pm, Saturday 29th August, with a heavy deluge and gale at the end of what was a world-record-breaking venture, east to west and then west to east across the Atlantic – both ways in world record times.
As they made their way along the pontoon to the music and singing of ‘We are the champions’, nearing the bandstand – amazingly – they had the energy and stimulus to dance for the performance by Elixir Band. And then put on a show of rowing to the music – to the great amusement of the large audience defying the tempest.
The weather did not dampen spirits one iota. It was a joyful moment to remember.
When the music and singing died down, it was the turn of the Town Mayor, Cllr Douglas Bown, to formally welcome and congratulate the pair on their achievements.
Following his speech, he presented them each with framed certificates to mark their world records.
- Fastest east to west.
- Fastest west to east!.
And there was more to come.
When Chris Nutt, President of the Rotary Club of Burnham-on-Crouch and the Dengie Hundred presented Dawn with a cheque as a donation to one of her nominated charities.In the last four years the Rotary Club has donated well over £57,000 to charities and good causes, local and beyond. He said they are now hugely pleased and proud to support the work of ‘Phoenix Heroes’ as nominated by Dawn. Located in Colchester the community-based support for veterans helps their physical and mental well-being.
Chris handed a £1,000 cheque to Dawn for Phoenix Heroes and to signify the Clubs’ congratulations to Dawn and Paul – himself a veteran – on the world record breaking rows across the Atlantic – popping into the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, Florida on the way to give them our Club Pennant as a token of friendship and goodwill.
To round off the event, there were interviews, questions and answers in the Park with Caroline Coastal Radio.
(Pictures by Peter Burton and Chris Nutt, Burnham and the Dengie Hundred Rotary Club) — 1st Sept 2026
Postscript
“Aurora” is the Latin for “Dawn”
Dawn became the first woman in history to row the Atlantic Ocean in both directions.
In December 2025 Dawn and Paul started from La Gomera, Canary Islands to row to Antigua as part of an organised event: “World’s Toughest Row” of 3,000 miles, which they completed in 42 days 4 hours.
In June 2026, they set off from St. John’s, Newfoundland and completed the challenge to row to her home town of Burnham-on-Crouch. This was an independent row with no event support of some 2,800 miles in 50 days to the record breaking ‘line’ off Cornwall. They were towed a short way into Newlyn in Cornwall due to horrendous adverse currents but had already crossed the ‘line’.
The boat for all this is a locally built, 28ft Rannoch R25. It self-rights should it capsize!
The Ocean Rowing Society (ORS) has confirmed that Dawn’s 16,815 nautical miles she rowed and her seven ocean crossings are both official world records.
Her sport is expensive. Dawn had to sell her house to fund her first trip six years ago. The second-hand boat cost about £53,000. There is about £10,000 worth of equipment on board. The food is £10 per packet and they each needed three packets plus snacks per day – for about 60 days.
Dawn doesn’t make money – she just has a passion for the challenge of rowing the oceans.
The Rotary Club of Burnham on Crouch and Dengie Hundred is proud to be associated with Dawn’s courage and achievements.
Burnham-on-Crouch and the Dengie Hundred Rotary Club, 1st Sept 2026
Club Pennant Rowed Across the Atlantic – in a World Record Time
Burnham on Crouch & Dengie Hundred Rotary Club’s pennant has completed a remarkable journey across the Atlantic.
Local ocean rower Dawn Smith BEM, founder of Row Aurora and a Burnham resident rowed the Club’s Rotary pennant across the Ocean with American Paul Lore on their expedition “Hometown Row.”
They set a new world record for the fastest mixed pair to row the Atlantic east to west, Canary Islands to Antigua.
They then travelled to Paul’s hometown Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, Florida, where they exchanged pennants as a symbol of friendship and community spirit between the two coastal towns.
Paul, Suzanne Amos (President) and Dawn
Dawn said the life on the Atlantic crossing was a mighty challenge and unforgettable. She and Paul spent weeks
at sea in a 9-metre ocean boat, rowing in three-hour shifts around the clock. They encountered powerful trade winds, large Atlantic swells, intense heat, and the physical and mental challenge of living in a small boat far from land!
At night the ocean came alive with bioluminescence, dolphins visited the boat, and the star-filled sky reminded how small humans are in the middle of the ocean.
Much more than rowing, the venture connects communities on both sides of the Atlantic and shows the power of collaboration and shared purpose. It highlights the clubs’ values of service and support for those who have served their own communities.
The Burnham Club is doing this by making a donation to Colchester based “Phoenix Heroes CIC” to support veterans and emergency service families facing mental health challenges. The expedition also supports “K9s For Warriors” which trains service dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD and trauma.
In June, Dawn and Paul plan to row the Fernandina pennant back to Burnham.
They will have completed a full transatlantic journey, strengthening the friendship between the two communities and supporting two worthy charities.
In 2025 we sponsored Dawn Smith, a local, internationally famed rower, in her challenge to row across the Atlantic and back again to Burnham quayside. Hence “Home Town Row”.
We support this venture through a donation to her chosen charity “Phoenix Heroes”. This is a charity based in Colchester providing vital services for Armed Forces Veterans and their families through a network of support for those who have served our country. See: Veteran Community Support
Dawn is rowing with Paul Lore.
They set off at 12.00 noon on 12th December in a Burnham-built Rannoch Adventure boat.
On board is our letter addressed to Paul’s club – the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club Rotary Club in Florida – together with our own Club pennant. Dawn expects to give this to them on arrival (via Antigua). in February 2026.
As she prepared to launch, Dawn said: “I will send you the odd message when I can. Then I will be sure to link you in everything when we deliver your pennant and letter.” She will row back with a present to us from the Fernandina club.
She flies back to the U.K. for a couple of months before starting the final leg in June 2026, rowing from Canada to Burnham on Crouch. We expect her back in August to meet her on the quayside in Burnham. The return gift from the Fernandina Rotary Club will be presented to us by her rowing partner Paul Lore.
Now a resident of Fernandina Beach, Paul served eight years in the Marines which explains why to quote, he “wants to make a difference in a veteran’s life because they make a difference in my life by protecting us every day.”
To find more about Home Town Row, and track her progress, see Dawn’s website: https://www.rowaurora.co.uk/
“Home Town Row – Pennant Arrives in Record Time”
Dawn Smith and rowing partner have arrived safely in Florida, in record time. They presented our Club pennant and letter to their host, Suzanne L Amos,President of the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club in Florida.
Here is the message sent Dawn on 5th March 2026 together with the photo of the President receiving our pennant from Dawn and her rowing partner Paul Lore.
Just a quick note to say that your flag and letter has been safely delivered.
We attended a meeting yesterday and had the honour of handing them directly to the president of Fernandina Beach Rotary Club Suzanne Amos.
Hopefully they will make contact with you very soon.
We have a flag to bring back across in June when we set off from Canada back to Burnham on crouch.
Let me know if you want me to write anything up for your newsletter.
Our row was record breaking. We now hold the Guinness world record for the fastest mixed pair to row the Atlantic E-W.
Kind regards,
Dawn
