Devon adventurers embarking on World’s Toughest Row

Thirty-eight ocean rowing boats with 111 ocean rowers representing 21 nations are preparing to leave San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 12 in the World’s Toughest Row organised by Atlantic Campaigns.

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.

Amongst the 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.

Tim Cox, water sports instructor who has spent over ten years helping competitors prepare for the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic Challenge, will finally practice what he preaches when he participates in the gruelling event.

Tim, who runs SeaSports South West in Teignmouth, will compete with friend Andy Purvis.

The pair hope to cover the 3000 miles to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua and Barbuda in around 40-50 days. It’s worth noting that more people have climbed Everest (nearly 7,000) than have rowed the Atlantic (about 1,700).

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 are not surprised he’s made the jump from instructor to participant. ‘It’s going to be strange to be the customer and not the provider,’ he commented.

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

The pair will be rowing as the ‘Oar Mighty Mates 2C’ on a 7.3m fibreglass Rannoch Adventure boat. The pair will take it in turns to row with two hours on and two hours off, although the two hours of rest won’t always involve sleep, but also maintenance tasks and eating.