Oldham chairman Frank Rothwell CAPSIZES twice during solo row across the Atlantic... but 73-year-old ISN'T giving up on attempt to beat his own world record

Oldham Athletic's 73-year-old chairman has vowed to complete his solo row across the Atlantic after his boat capsized TWICE – and sent him plunging into the ocean.

Frank Rothwell is attempting to break his own world record and raise £1m for Alzheimer's Research UK by completing an epic sail from the Canary Islands to Antigua.

But his 3,000-mile journey, which started last week, was disrupted this morning by surging waves which sent the pensioner hurtling into the water.

'The first time I was on the phone to my daughter Su,' Frank told Mail Sport from satellite phone 220 miles off the coast of La Gomera.

'I was inside having battened down and when it happened it felt like being in a washing machine. Everything went flying and one of my emergency alarms that was strapped to the wall got ripped off and lost.'

The boat, named For A Cure, righted itself but not without collateral damage. 

'There were Mars bars everywhere and all my emergency alarms were bleeping,' Frank added.

With the waters appearing to calm, Frank then went outside to set up what is known as a storm jib – a small sail which helps to keep the boat stable in turbulent times. 

However, while he was working on setting that up, another giant wave hit and this time he was dumped him into the sea. 

'Fortunately I'm always clipped onto the boat,' he said. 'If I hadn't been I would have been a goner. The boat was on its side and I managed to swim over, correct it and get back on.'

Business owner Frank, who is raising money in honour of his brother-in-law and close friend, who both died from the disease, immediately called home to wife Judith to let her know what had happened before calling race control.

'I lost a lot of rope the second time and, if I am honest, I was half hoping they would tell me to call it a day,' he explained. 

'I'm not a quitter and would never quit, but if they told me I had to then that would be different, I'd have had an excuse. 

'But they said that, despite losing the rope, I still had everything that I needed and to carry on if I wanted to and so that's what I'm doing.'

Frank, who took over the National League side with his family last year, admitted that he was shaken up by the double episode. 

'I've had an absolutely s**** day,' he said. 'I've never capsized in all my time sailing and now it's happened twice. 

'I was a bit upset at first but as the day's gone on I've felt better. If anything, it's given me more determination to carry on. I was determined to win and beat my time from the last time I did it but now, if it takes an extra two to three weeks then that's fine.'

In 2021 Frank completed the row in 56 days, becoming the oldest person to cross the Atlantic solo at the age of 70. This time he was aiming for 49 days until this morning's drama. Back home son Luke, 48, is helping with navigation. 

'He called to tell us what happened and was full of adrenalin,' he said. 

'He was saying his training kicked in and everything was alright but that was in a marina, not the middle of the ocean! 

'He was annoyed because he had a little elf that his grandson gave him which was his mascot last time and he's lost that now. 

'The good thing is he now knows what limits the boat has and how vulnerable he can be.'

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/frankrothwell