Atlantic Rowing Race
The Atlantic Rowing Race is an ocean rowing race from the Canary Islands to the West Indies, a distance of approximately 2,550 nm (2,930 statute miles or 4,700 km). The race was founded in 1997 by Sir Chay Blyth with subsequent races roughly every two years since.[1] The early races were run by Challenge Business Ltd. until the race was bought by Woodvale Events Ltd., managed by Simon Chalk, in October 2003.[2] In May 2012, Atlantic Campaigns SL, managed by Carsten Heron Olsen bought the rights to the Atlantic Rowing Race, now called The "Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge" – The World's Toughest Row.[3][4] Since 2015, the race has been held annually starting each December.
1997 – Port St. Charles Rowing Race
- Departure Port: Playa San Juan, Tenerife
- Arrival Port: Port St. Charles, Barbados
- Race Start: 12 October 1997
- Teams Starting: 30
- Teams Finishing: 24
- Categories: Pairs
- Winning Boat: Kiwi Challenge[5][6]
- Team Name: Kiwi Challenge
- Country: New Zealand
- Rowers: Rob Hamill and Phil Stubbs
- Time: 41 days, 2 hours, and 55 minutes
2001 – Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Race
- Departure Port: Playa San Juan, Tenerife
- Arrival Port: Port St. Charles, Barbados
- Race Start: 7 October 2001
- Teams Starting: 36
- Teams Finishing: 33
- Categories: Pairs
- Winning Boat: Telecom Challenge 1[7]
- Team Name: Telecom Challenge 1
- Country: New Zealand
- Rowers: Matt Goodman and Steve Westlake
- Time: 42 days, 4 hours, and 3 minutes
2003 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: Port St. Charles, Barbados
- Race Start: 19 October 2003
- Teams Starting: 17
- Teams Finishing: 14
- Categories: Singles, Pairs
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: Holiday Shoppe Challenge[9]
- Country: New Zealand
- Rowers: James Fitzgerald and Kevin Biggar
- Time: 40 days, 4 hours, and 3 minutes[10]
2004 – Ocean Rowing Society Atlantic Rowing Regatta
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 20 January 2004
- Teams Starting: 13
- Teams Finishing: 12
- Categories: Singles, Pairs, 1x Four
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: Atlantic-4
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: David Martin, Neil Wightwick, Glynn Coupland, and George Simpson
- Time: 49 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes
2005 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 30 November 2005
- Teams Starting: 27
- Teams Finishing: 20
- Categories: Singles, Pairs, Fours
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: C2
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Clint Evans and Chris Andrews
- Time: 52 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes
For more race details, see: 2005 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
2007 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 2 December 2007
- Teams Starting: 22
- Teams Finishing: 20
- Categories: Singles, Pairs, Fours
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: Pure Vida
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: John Cecil-Wright, Robbie Grant, Tom Harvey, and Carl Theakston
- Time: 48 Days, 2 hours, 52 minutes
For more race details, see: 2007 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
2009/2010 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: Antigua
- Race Start: 4 January 2010 (Race delayed by a month)
- Teams Starting: 7 Solos, 20 Pairs, 3 Fours[15]
- Teams Finishing: 20
- Categories: Singles, Pairs, Fours
- Winning Boat: JJ (Insure & Go)
- Team Name: Charlie Pitcher
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Charlie Pitcher
- Time: 52 days 6 hours and 47 minutes
2011 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: Port St. Charles, Barbados
- Race Start: 5 December 2011
- Teams Starting: 17
- Teams Finishing: 11
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Fours, Fives, and Sixes
- Winning Boat: Box No 8
- Team Name: Box No 8
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Toby Iles and Nick Moore
- Time: 40 days, 9 hours, 15 minutes
2013 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera[18]
- Arrival Port: Antigua
- Race Start: 4 December 2013
- Teams Starting: 17
- Teams Finishing: 11
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours, Fives
- Winning Boat: Locura[19]
- Team Name: Team Locura
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Tom Salt and Mike Burton
- Time: 40 days, 2 hours, 38 minutes, 54 seconds[20]
2015 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: Antigua
- Race Start: 20 December 2015
- Teams Starting: 26
- Teams Finishing: 26
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours
- Winning Boat: Ocean Reunion
- Team Name: Ocean Reunion
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Angus Collins, Gus Barton, Joe Barnett, Jack Mayhew
- Time: 37 days, 9 hours, 12 minutes
2016 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: Antigua
- Race Start: 14 December 2016
- Teams Starting: 12
- Teams Finishing: 11
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours
- Winning Boat: American Spirit
- Team Name: Latitude 35
- Country: Mixed ( United States and United Kingdom)
- Rowers: Jason Caldwell (USA), Matthew Brown (USA), Angus Collins (UK), Alex Simpson (UK)
- Time: 35 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes (New Race Record)
2017 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 14 December 2017
- Teams Starting: 26
- Teams Finishing: 22
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours
- Winning Boat: Aegir
- Team Name: The Four Oarsmen
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: George Biggar, Peter Robinson, Stuart Watts, Richard Taylor
- Time: 29 days, 14 hours, 34 minutes (New Race Record)
2018 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 12 December 2018
- Teams Starting: 28
- Teams Finishing: 27
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours, Fives
- Winning Boat: Rose
- Team Name: Dutch Atlantic Four
- Country: Netherlands
- Rowers: Marcel Ates, Erik Koning, David de Bruijn, Bart Adema
- Time: 34 days, 12 hours, 9 minutes
2019 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 12 December 2019
- Teams Starting: 35
- Teams Finishing: 35
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours, Fives
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: Fortitude IV
- Country: United Kingdom
- Rowers: Oliver Palmer, Tom Foley, Hugh Gilum, Max Breet
- Time: 32 days, 12 hours, 35 minutes, 2 seconds 2019 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Diversity: In 2019 the first Black team and the first Caribbean team completed the challenge. The team was composed of Christal Clashing, Samara Emmanuel, Kevinia Francis and Elvira Bell-Bailey. Three of the team, named Antigua Island Girls, went on to compete in and finish the 2023 inaugural World's Toughest Row-Pacific,[32][33] using the funds raised to establish a home for girls in conflict with the law.[34] [35]
2021 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- Departure Port: San Sebastián de la Gomera
- Arrival Port: English Harbour, Antigua
- Race Start: 12 December 2021
- Teams Starting: 36
- Teams Finishing: 35
- Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours, Fives
- Winning Boat:
- Team Name: SWISS RAW
- Country: Switzerland
- Rowers: Roman Moeckli, Ingvar Groza, Samuel Widmer, Jan Hurni
- Time: 34 days, 23 hours, 42 minutes 2021 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
Current Race Records
Ocean rowing records for The Atlantic Rowing Race are maintained by Ocean Rowing Stats.[36][37]
Category | Race Year | Time | Rowers | Team | Special Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Single | 2015 | 52 days, 3 hr, 26 min | Matteo Perucchini | Sogno Atlantico | |
Traditional Double | 2003 | 40 days, 4 hr, 3 min | James Fitzgerald
Kevin Biggar |
Holiday Shoppe Challenge | |
Traditional Trio | 2016 | 51 days, 1 hr, 13 min | Stuart Connacher
Charl Gale Wayne Johnson |
Facing It | |
Traditional Four | |||||
Concept Single | 2016 | 49 days, 11 hr, 37 min | Gavan Hennigan | Soulogav | |
Concept Double | 2019 | 37 days, 7 hr, 54 min | Dave Spelman
Max Thorpe |
Resilient:X | Guinness World Record for
the fastest row across the Atlantic E-W by a team of Two |
Concept Trio | 12 Dec 2022 - 16 Jan 2023 | 35 days, 2 hr, 33 min | Gareth Keighley
Charles Taylor Aaron Kneebone |
Dark Trio | |
Concept Four | 2017 | 29 days, 14 hr, 34 min | Peter Robinson
Stuart Watts George Biggar Richard Taylor |
The Four Oarsmen | Guinness World Record for
the fastest row across the Atlantic E-W by a team of Four |
References
- "Transatlantic rowing race | Chay Blyth". chayblyth.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- "Challenge Business sell rowing races – Yachting World". Yachting World. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- "Atlantic Campaigns | Atlantic Rowing | Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge | Atlantic Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Atlantic Row | Greg Maud | The History". Greg Maud | Adventurer. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- "Race Results and Highlights". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Regatta Online – Atlantic Challenge". regatta.rowing.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Ocean rowing Society Archive – Current News and Past Endeavours". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Ocean rowing statistics". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Ocean Rowing Society – 2003 List of Race Entrants".
- "Holliday Shoppe Challenge set a new record!!!". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Ocean Rows 199 through 205". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Ocean Rows 199 through 205". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Statistics of Ocean Rows". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Statistics of rows across oceans". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- Entrants in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009 Archived 11 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 April 2010
- "Statistics of rows across oceans". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Statistics2010_12". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2013/2014 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge". Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Race Entrants | Atlantic Campaigns". atlanticcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Londoner wins 'world's toughest' race". Evening Standard. London. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "Compiled by Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/race-report-2017/s/ 2017 race report Retrieved 23 March 2022
- "Compiled by Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-race-entrants/ Archived 27 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine 2018 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-leaderboard/ Archived 28 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine 2018 leaderboard Retrieved 26 January 2020
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-race-summary/ 2018 race summary Retrieved 26 January 2020
- "Compiled by Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-entrants/ Archived 6 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine 2019 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
- https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-tracking/ Archived 28 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine 2019 race tracking Retrieved 26 January 2020
- "World's Toughest Row – Pacific – worldstoughestrow.com". Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- Writer, Staff (9 August 2023). "Team Antigua Island Girls conquer the Pacific". Voice Online. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- Hinds, Rodney (September 2023). "Tough as they come". The Voice. p. 47.
- Noel, Melissa (26 January 2022). "Team Antigua Island Girls will hit the seas again for new challenge". TheGrio. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- "Atlantic Campaigns Partners | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- "2015 Leaderboard | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
External links
- Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2015
- Ocean Rowing Stats
- Atlantic Rowing Race 2009
- Atlantic Rowing Race 2005
- Woodvale Events
- Association of Ocean Rowers
- Ocean Rowing Society International
- BBC report of the 2005 start
- BBC report – Champagne for Beer Rowers