Oar over troubled water: Royal Navy personnel conquer 3,000-mile race across Atlantic
A team of Royal Navy personnel have overcome sleep deprivation, heat exhaustion and towering 30ft waves to complete a gruelling 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic.
Rowing from the Canary Islands to Antigua, the World's Toughest Row pushed 43 teams comprised of 114 rowers to their physical and mental limits.
Commodore Rich Purdy, alongside Lieutenant Commander Guy Wilton, Warrant Officer First Class Liam Hoddy and Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Addi Taylor, competed under the name HMS Oardacious, and completed this impressive feat in 36 days and 12 hours.
Rough seas
True to the name of the event, the team faced all the highs and lows, battling on day and night with no more than two consecutive hours of sleep and often rowing additional shifts to fight for race positions.
They finished fifth in the four-strong team category, securing seventh place – seven days behind the winners – Swiss Quartet 44 West.
Reflecting on his five weeks at sea, Cdre Purdy said: "We've seen night skies full of stars with the full Milky Way and shooting stars, the vastness of the ocean, sunsets and sunrises, and we've climbed into the sea with literally miles of water below and around us."
He added that the challenges came in the way of sea and heat sickness, fatigue, hallucinations and a faulty auto-tiller – the boat's steering system.
"But thanks to the company of fellow sailors, who have worked hard as a crew, we've supported each other through the highs and lows," he said.
Surg Lt Cdr Taylor added: "For me, the high point was around New Year with the full moon, which made it as bright as day, and everything was clear and still. Pictures just don't do it justice.
"The low point was definitely the first 48 hours when everything I'd eaten over the past month came back up, and I really wanted to die – but thankfully that passed pretty quickly."
In a post on X, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins spoke of the "extraordinary legacy" of HMS Oardacious – whose crew members have for years been raising vital funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines charities.
"BZ to a remarkable team," Sir Gwyn said.
A charitable legacy
With the completion of the race, all five Royal Navy teams can now boast the accolade of a World's Toughest Row finisher since they began competing in 2019.
The money raised will not only help the service's principal charity but also support mental health and the families of serving personnel. To date, it has raised well over £1m.
Mental health is particularly important for this year's team. Their boat is named after submariner Captain Jim Simpson, who tragically took his own life in 2020.
If you would like to support HMS Oardacious, you can follow this link here.
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