Devon crews cross the Atlantic finishing line

Two Devon crews, ‘Oar Mighty Mates’ and ‘Team Rollocks’, in the World’s Toughest Row have arrived in Antigua after rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

Aboard ‘Oar Mighty Mates’ ocean rowing boat was Tim Cox, a water sports instructor who has spent over ten years helping competitors prepare for the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic Challenge, finally practicing what he preached when he participated in the gruelling event.

Tim, who runs SeaSports South West in Teignmouth, competed with friend Andy Purvis. The pair covered the 3000 miles to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua and Barbuda in 49 days, 8 hours 53 minutes.

Tim is no stranger to the transatlantic rowing challenge. He has been providing safety instruction and weather routing services to transatlantic rowers since 2012. Family and friends were not surprised he made the jump from instructor to participant.

Tim met crewmate Andy when he was teaching him on a safety course. Andy had been due to row across the Atlantic in 2023 but his original crew-mate had to pull out, so Andy needed to defer his race plans and find a new partner.

The pair rowed across the Atlantic in a 7.3m fibreglass Rannoch Adventure boat. They took turns to row with two hours on and two hours off, although the two hours of rest didn’t always involve sleep, but also maintenance tasks and eating.

Also arriving in Antigua were the Exmouth crew ‘Team Rollocks’ who were at the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta in August. The crew of five finished in 47 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes.

Race Safety Officer Ian Couch said: “This is a brutally honest event. It doesn’t matter what you tell friends, family or social media. When you step off the boat, you know exactly who you are.

“It holds up a very honest mirror. Reputation is what people think you are, character is who you actually are. This whole event, exposing yourself to risk, hardship and potential failure, is the ultimate test and development of character.

“Motivation will get you started but only discipline will get you to the finish.”

Thirty-eight ocean rowing boats with 110 ocean rowers representing 21 nations left San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 11. The 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. Two solo rowers retired; Vic Handley of the UK returned within two hours of the start with technical problems; and in an incredibly hard and brave decision German Martin Stengele retired on January 5 and was towed to Cape Verde.