Team V3nture become first serving military trio to conquer the World's Toughest Row

A team of three British Army officers have made history by becoming the first serving military trio to complete the World's Toughest Row, a gruelling 3,000-mile (4,800km) journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Rowing from San Sebastián de La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua, Team V3nture finished the challenge in 40 days, 17 hours, and 40 minutes – despite having only three rowers compared to the usual four.  

The team comprised Captain Rob Cross from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Captain Charlie Newman of 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery and Captain Rob Treasure from 1st Battalion The Rifles, based in Cyprus.

• Team V3nture: Meet the soldiers aiming to be the first military trio to row the Atlantic
• Four military teams enter the final stretch of the World's Toughest Row Atlantic challenge
• Four military teams begin their 3,000-mile Atlantic journey in World's Toughest Row

Capt Treasure said of the challenge: "It was amazing. I thought it was absolutely incredible.

"The noise was overwhelming, and so was everything around us.

"Being stuck on a boat and just looking out on the deep blue for days and days, it was amazing."

Team V3nture undertook the incredible challenge in an attempt to raise £200,000, of which 70% would be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Capt Treasure's father who died in 2021.

The remainder will be donated to various military charities, including the Regimental Charities of the Welsh Guards, The Rifles and the Royal Artillery.

The trio embraced as they arrived in Antigua, welcomed by cheering friends and family in jubilant scenes.

Their remarkable effort earned them a seventh-place overall finish, making them the first trio and the leading military team to complete the race this year.

They also set a new milestone as the first serving military team to row an ocean.  

In the final days of their race, Team V3nture managed to overtake several four-person crews, further highlighting their determination and strength.

The three other military teams, Oarsome Army Educators, HMS Oardacious Valkyries and Force Atlantic, remain in 14th, 20th and 18th places respectively.  

The World’s Toughest Row began on 12 December in the Canary Islands and was expected to take around six weeks to complete, making Team V3nture's performance all the more exceptional.