The Mitsubishi Electric sponsored Ecodan boat had some very special guests at the BMW PGA Golf Championship as the nation’s most successful Olympic rowers Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent called to lend their support.

The pair visited the Mitsubishi Electric stand within the Championship tented village at the four-day event at the Wentworth Club, to shake the hands of the All Beans No Monkeys team, who will row the Atlantic later this year when they take part in the Tallisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Steve Redgrave, CBE, DL won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000 and Matthew Pinsent, CBE won four consecutive Olympic gold medals, of which three were with Steve Redgrave.

Crew member and Mitsubishi Electric Heating product manager James Timbs-Harrison, says: 'It was an honour to meet them both and they were very supportive of the challenge facing us'.

The Tallisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge will see the crew row 4,800km across the world’s second largest ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

James and his fellow crew members, Liam Browning, Stuart Markland and James Kendall will depart on 15 December this year in their specially named ‘Ecodan’ boat and will row continuously in two-hour shifts.

Both Olympians also autographed the boat which will be home to the team of four for up to 90 days as they take on the one of the toughest races on earth.

James continues: 'This is without doubt a challenge of a lifetime, but it is one which we are all looking forward to. A big part of this challenge is also raising money and awareness for our chosen charities and our goal is to raise £60,000, which will be split between the RNLI and Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Further information about the crew and the challenge can be found at their dedicated website: www.allbeansnomonkeys.com

Pictured L to R: Liam Browning; Sir Steve Redgrave; James Kendall; Sir Matthew Pinsent; Stuart Markland; James Timbs-Harrison on board the Ecodan boat.