North Devon crew set world record in the Atlantic rowing challenge

The sixth week of the World’s Toughest Row organised by Atlantic Campaigns has seen the start of the culmination of the race with the leading crews arriving in Antigua and there was a magnificent world record for the North Devon crew.

Conditions have continued to be helpful with a following wind and waves pushing crews to some excellent finishing times.

Forty-three ocean rowing boats with 114 ocean rowers representing 20 nations left San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 14 in the 2025 race, 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 43 competing crews are made up of 10 solos, 11 pairs, 6 trios and 16 fours.

Amongst the crews there are two Devon rowers, Clare O’Reilly from Wembury who was at Dartmouth Regatta this year with her trio crew ‘Row with the Flow’ and Jess Smiles from Saunton who is rowing in a pair named ‘Atlantic Highway’ named after the highway through North Devon.

The Swiss crew ’44 West’ were the first to cross the finish line on January 14, having taken 31 days, 8 hours and 8 minutes to cross the Atlantic. The first British crew to finish were ‘Southsea Scullers’ on January 18 in 5th place in 35 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes.

Beth and Jess of ‘Atlantic Highway’ winners of the women’s class set a new world record as the fastest women’s pair completing the crossing in 38 days, 12 hours and 18 minutes on January 22 in 11th place. ‘Row with the Flow’ in 20th place still have 200 nautical miles to go.

On January 21, an emergency beacon (EPIRB) alert was received from the solo rowing vessel ‘City of Liverpool’, competing under the team name ‘Viva For Life’. In line with established safety procedures, the alert was immediately escalated to the relevant search and rescue authorities, who coordinated the response in cooperation with Atlantic Campaigns. Benoit Bourguet is now safely on board the rescuing vessel.