Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge Photo

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Alisdair Putt, a former Australian spy and the skipper of the Aussie Old Salts team has died on his way to Antigua and Barbuda

Putt suffered from a suspected heart attack during the challenging Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The four-man crew was rowing from La Gomera to Antigua when tragedy struck.

The race organizers confirmed Putt’s death on January 4, leaving his crewmates Stuart Moore, Andreas Koenig, and Alastair Horton devastated.

The Aussie Old Salts team participated in the race with the noble goal of raising funds for a military veterans’ transition center and an Indigenous women’s crisis center.

The team’s efforts were admirable, and they were determined to succeed. However, fate had other plans, and the loss of their captain has left them in mourning.

Meanwhile, the British Royal Navy team, Oardacious, is leading the race, with 700 miles to go and expected to reach Nelson’s Dockyard on January 18.

It’s a grueling competition that tests the limits of endurance, and the teams face numerous challenges along the way.

Overall, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is an annual event that demands strength, perseverance, and courage from its participants.

The loss of Alisdair Putt is a reminder of the risks involved, and our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and crewmates during this difficult time.