Ilfracombe Atlantic rower is crossing the finish line today

After more than 3,000 miles and 53 days, Ilfracombe scaffolder Gary Hutchings is set to finish his solo row across the Atlantic this evening (Tuesday).

Gary and his boat Pollyanne are now less than 25 nautical miles from the finish line at Antigua in the Caribbean after setting off from Lanzarote almost two months ago.

He has been taking part in the Atlantic Dash, an annual rowing event for crews of up to four, but this year Gary is the only solo rower taking part and currently lies in second place after leading for much of the event.

But it is not a race and Gary has so far raised almost £15,000 for two Motor Neurone Disease charities, inspired by rugby stars Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir – the MND Association and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, plus Devon Air Ambulance.

Now after more than 5,000 kilometres or around 3,200 miles, Gary is almost home – in an emotional Facebook video posted on his Pollyanhutch2025 page this morning he reported he was expecting to sight land very soon, after weeks on end of nothing but blue ocean.

His boat Pollyanne is around 10 miles behind lead boat Waves 2 Awareness, crewed by a male and female duo, but his is also almost 50 miles ahead of the other pair of boats taking part, both four-person crews. Gary had led the event for a long time but lost the lead after several days becalmed with no wind.

Gary’s brother Mark Hutchings, who runs Ilfracombe Sea Safari with his wife Nancy, is waiting at Jolly Harbour in Antigua to meet him and is planning to broadcast the landfall on Facebook live.

Nancy told the Gazette Gary is expected to arrive at around 8pm UK time today.

Nancy said: “It is incredible what he has achieved, all of Ilfracombe has been supporting him the whole way, pushing him on with words of encouragement.

“We are all so proud of him and this achievement, it’s beyond the realms of what most of us are capable of.”

During the race, Gary has received multiple videos of support and encouragement from sporting celebrities, such as Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Johnny Wilkinson, Johnathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies OBE and Nigel Owens MBE.

Despite the rest of the family running a small fleet of sightseeing boats from Ilfracombe, Gary is typically considered the least-nautical member of the family!

Nancy related his first ever row in Pollyanne was to Lundy Island, where he intended to stay the night, but he had to get up very early while it was still dark to take advantage of the tide to push him back to Ilfracombe.

She said: “But somehow he misread navigation equipment and he rowed into the island instead, so we had to go and fetch him in one of our boats.

“That was the one and only day he did in that boat until he left for Antigua!”

Gary’s charity appeal is still running and if you would like to donate, please visit his Pollyanhutch25 page on JustGiving.

You can also follow his progress live on the Atlantic dash interactive map and on the Pollyanhutch25 Facebook page.