The final crews approach finishing line in the epic Atlantic Ocean challenge

The seventh week of the World’s Toughest Row organised by Atlantic Campaigns has seen more crews arriving in Antigua. Conditions have continued to be helpful with a following wind and waves pushing crews to some excellent finishing times.

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 overall.

‘Row with the Flow’ finished in 21st place on January 25 in 42 days, 9 hours and 31 minutes. There are just half a dozen crews afloat still to complete the race.