Devon crew capsizes in world’s toughest row

The first couple of weeks of the World’s Toughest Rowing Race organised by Atlantic Campaigns has seen crews adapting to the challenges of an Atlantic crossing.

Thirty-eight ocean rowing boats with 110 ocean rowers representing 21 nations left San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 11.

The 2024 race is a 3,000 mile unsupported rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean west from San Sebastian in La Gomera in the Canary Islands (280N 180W) to Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda (170N 610W).

The 38 competing crews are made up of 6 solos, 11 pairs, 4 trios, 15 fours and 2 fives. One solo rower returned within two hours of the start with technical problems.

Amongst the local crews are rowers from Exmouth who were at Dartmouth Regatta this year; Budleigh Salterton; Plymouth; Cornwall; a local businessman from Teignmouth; and an ocean rowing boat named Rockfisher 2 with connections to Brixham.

It’s been a tough week on the Atlantic with organisers of the race stating: “Our Safety Officers have made more than 500 calls to crews so far and it’s tough out there. The crews are safe, capable, and facing challenging conditions that, while daunting, will speed their journey to the finish.

“The log includes knockdowns, capsizes, broken oars, a lost daggerboard, power issues, accidental EPIRB activations, sore hands and bottoms. This race is much more than rowing, it’s about boat skills, grit and digging deeper than one would think possible. This determination is truly inspiring to witness.

“The fleet currently faces 15-18 knot winds from the E/ENE, shifting N by 20/21 Dec. Winds will strengthen to 25 knots (gusts up to 35) on 21-22 Dec, then ease and turn N by 23/24 Dec.

“NE waves are improving, but patchy clouds and Saharan sand make power management crucial. Conditions are fast, requiring crews to keep their boats positioned correctly while surfing the waves. For many teams, this is a period of less rowing, but conditions can change quickly, and suddenly it’s like rowing through mud, where every oar stroke counts.”

Amongst the crews that had a capsize was Oar Mighty Mates. Onboard is Tim Cox from Teignmouth, a water sports instructor who has spent over ten years helping competitors prepare for the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic Challenge.

Tim commented: “It’s been a day of rough seas, and this has taken its toll on us. We had a knockdown this afternoon after being hit by a large wave and we endured a full rollover. Andy was briefly swept overboard before climbing back in.”

As race followers will be aware, it is an unbendable rule of the World’s Toughest Row that all competitors are attached to the boat whenever on deck. And for very good reason as Andy can testify.

Both Andy and Tim are ok but there has been some impact on the boat’s organization. The boys are on para-anchor while they sort themselves out and gather their wits. As you’d expect there is some inevitable tidying up to be done and bruises to attend to but, fortunately, nothing worse. Communications with the boat have not been interrupted and all is otherwise well.

Tim did sound slightly shaken and Andy reports that the swim was pretty dramatic at the time. He’s pleased to have practiced the overboard drills extensively ahead of the row – and Tim, of course, has trained people for just this eventuality many, many times.

“All part of the race,” Tim said, somewhat stoically, adding: “It’s a little different when it happens to you for real.”

After the drama of the capsize the para-anchor wrapped around the rudder which meant Andy had to go over the side again to retrieve it.

They, along with other crews, have experienced dust storms lifting large amounts of sand and dust into the atmosphere from the Sahara. The sand is picked up by the trade winds and blown across the Atlantic, affecting both air quality and visibility.

More importantly for Tim and Andy, however, it reduces the effectiveness of the solar power unit recharging the batteries on board the boat.

Follow the race online.