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

[8]

2004 – Ocean Rowing Society Atlantic Rowing Regatta

[11]

  • 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

[11]

For more race details, see: 2005 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race

2007 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race

[12]

  • 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

[13]

  • 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, 1 team of 12[14]
  • 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

[13]

  • 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

[15]

  • Departure Port:San Sebastián de la Gomera[16]
  • Arrival Port:Antigua
  • Race Start: 4 December 2013
  • Teams Starting: 17
  • Teams Finishing: 11
  • Categories: Singles, Doubles, Trios, Fours, Fives
  • Winning Boat: Locura[17]
    • Team Name: Team Locura
    • Country: United Kingdom
    • Rowers: Tom Salt and Mike Burton
    • Time: 40 days, 2 hours, 38 minutes, 54 seconds[18]

2015 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

[19]

  • 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

[19]

  • 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

[20][21]

  • 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

[20][22][23][24]

  • 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

[20][25][26]

  • 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,[27][28] using the funds raised to establish a home for girls in conflict with the law.[29][30]

2021 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

[26]

  • 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.[31][32]

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 FitzgeraldKevin Biggar Holiday Shoppe Challenge
Traditional Trio 2016 51 days, 1 hr, 13 min Stuart ConnacherCharl GaleWayne 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 SpelmanMax Thorpe Resilient:X Guinness World Record for the fastest row across the Atlantic E-W by a duo
Concept Trio 12 Dec 2022 - 16 Jan 2023 35 days, 2 hr, 33 min Gareth KeighleyCharles TaylorAaron Kneebone Dark Trio
Concept Four 2017 29 days, 14 hr, 34 min Peter RobinsonStuart WattsGeorge BiggarRichard Taylor The Four Oarsmen Guinness World Record for the fastest row across the Atlantic E-W by a four person team
Female Trio 2023 40 days, 10 hr, 51 min Bobbie MellorKatherine AntrobusHatty Carder WaveBreakers Fastest Female Trio to row across the Atlantic Ocean
Women's Solo 2024 44 days, 4 hours, 47 min Liz Wardley15 days faster than previous record[33][34]

References

  1. ^"Transatlantic rowing race | Chay Blyth". chayblyth.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. ^"Challenge Business sell rowing races – Yachting World". Yachting World. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  3. ^"Atlantic Campaigns | Atlantic Rowing | Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge | Atlantic Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. ^"Atlantic Row | Greg Maud | The History". Greg Maud | Adventurer. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  5. ^"Race Results and Highlights". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. ^"Regatta Online – Atlantic Challenge". regatta.rowing.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. ^"Ocean rowing Society Archive – Current News and Past Endeavours". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  8. ^"Ocean rowing statistics". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  9. ^"Ocean Rowing Society – 2003 List of Race Entrants".
  10. ^"Holliday Shoppe Challenge set a new record!!!". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  11. ^ ab"Ocean Rows 199 through 205". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  12. ^"Statistics of Ocean Rows". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  13. ^ ab"Statistics of rows across oceans". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  14. ^Entrants in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009Archived 11 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 April 2010
  15. ^"Statistics2010_12". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  16. ^"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.
  17. ^"Race Entrants | Atlantic Campaigns". atlanticcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  18. ^"Londoner wins 'world's toughest' race". Evening Standard. London. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  19. ^ ab"Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  20. ^ abc"Compiled by Oceanrowing". oceanrowing.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  21. ^https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/race-report-2017/s/2017 race report Retrieved 23 March 2022
  22. ^https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-race-entrants/Archived 27 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine2018 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
  23. ^https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-leaderboard/Archived 28 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine2018 leaderboard Retrieved 26 January 2020
  24. ^https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-race-summary/2018 race summary Retrieved 26 January 2020
  25. ^https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-entrants/Archived 6 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine2019 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
  26. ^ abhttps://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-tracking/Archived 28 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine2019 race tracking Retrieved 26 January 2020
  27. ^"World's Toughest Row – Pacific – worldstoughestrow.com". Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  28. ^Staff Writer (9 August 2023). "Team Antigua Island Girls conquer the Pacific". Voice Online. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  29. ^Hinds, Rodney (September 2023). "Tough as they come". The Voice. p. 47.
  30. ^Noel, Melissa (26 January 2022). "Team Antigua Island Girls will hit the seas again for new challenge". TheGrio. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  31. ^"Atlantic Campaigns Partners | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  32. ^"2015 Leaderboard | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race". atlanticcampaigns.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  33. ^"Liz Wardley sets new record in transatlantic row". The Ocean Race. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  34. ^Sorbello, Nikki (17 December 2024). "Call of adventure pulls solo female rower to sea three times". ABC News. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
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