Atlantic Rowing Race

Short description: Ocean rowing race

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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.

## Contents

* 1 1997 – Port St. Charles Rowing Race
* 2 2001 – Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Race
* 3 2003 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
* 4 2004 – Ocean Rowing Society Atlantic Rowing Regatta
* 5 2005 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
* 6 2007 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
* 7 2009/2010 – Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race
* 8 2011 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 9 2013 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 10 2015 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 11 2016 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 12 2017 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 13 2018 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 14 2019 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 15 2021 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
* 16 Current Race Records
* 17 References
* 18 External links

## 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]

* 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

[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]

* 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

[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 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 duo
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 four person team
Female Trio  | 2023  | 40 days, 10 hr, 51 min  | Bobbie Mellor
Katherine Antrobus
Hatty Carder
| WaveBreakers  | Fastest Female Trio to row across the Atlantic Ocean
Women's Solo  | 2024  | 44 days, 4 hours, 47 min  | Liz Wardley  |  | 15 days faster than previous record[33][34]

## References

1. ↑ "Transatlantic rowing race | Chay Blyth" (in en-US). 17 April 2012. http://www.chayblyth.com/creating-challenges/the-transatlantic-rowing-race.
2. ↑ "Challenge Business sell rowing races – Yachting World" (in en-US). Yachting World. 2003-11-04. http://www.yachtingworld.com/news/challenge-business-sell-rowing-races-39500.
3. ↑ "Atlantic Campaigns | Atlantic Rowing | Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge | Atlantic Rowing Race" (in en-US). http://www.atlanticcampaigns.com/.
4. ↑ "Atlantic Row | Greg Maud | The History" (in en-US). Greg Maud | Adventurer. http://gregmaud.co.za/the-challenge/the-history.
5. ↑ "Race Results and Highlights". http://www.oceanrowing.com/race_results_and_hightlights.htm.
6. ↑ "Regatta Online – Atlantic Challenge". http://www.regatta.rowing.org.uk/atchall.html.
7. ↑ "Ocean rowing Society Archive – Current News and Past Endeavours". http://www.oceanrowing.com/ORS_Archive/ORS_archive_2001.htm#WARD.
8. ↑ "Ocean rowing statistics". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all2.htm#2003.
9. ↑ "Ocean Rowing Society – 2003 List of Race Entrants". http://www.oceanrowing.com/challenge_2003/list_of_race_entrants.htm.
10. ↑ "Holliday Shoppe Challenge set a new record!!!". http://www.oceanrowing.com/challenge_2003/news.htm.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ocean Rows 199 through 205". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all3.htm.
12. ↑ "Statistics of Ocean Rows". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all4.htm.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Statistics of rows across oceans". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all5.htm.
14. ↑ Entrants in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009 . Retrieved 5 April 2010
15. ↑ "Statistics2010_12". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all6.htm.
16. ↑ "Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2013/2014 – Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge" (in en-US). Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. 2016-11-21. https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/talisker-whisky-atlantic-challenge-20132014/.
17. ↑ "Race Entrants | Atlantic Campaigns" (in en-US). http://www.atlanticcampaigns.com/2013-2/race-entrants/.
18. ↑ "Londoner wins 'world's toughest' race" (in en-GB). Evening Standard (London). 2014-01-14. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/londoner-wins-worlds-toughest-race-9059801.html.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Oceanrowing". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all7.htm.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Compiled by Oceanrowing". http://www.oceanrowing.com/statistics/ocean_rowing_records_all8.htm.
21. ↑ https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/race-report-2017/s/ 2017 race report Retrieved 23 March 2022
22. ↑ https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-race-entrants/ 2018 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
23. ↑ https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018-leaderboard/ 2018 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/ 2019 race entrants Retrieved 26 January 2020
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2019-race-tracking/ 2019 race tracking Retrieved 26 January 2020
27. ↑ "World’s Toughest Row – Pacific – worldstoughestrow.com" (in en-US). https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/the-pacific/.
28. ↑ Staff Writer (2023-08-09). "Team Antigua Island Girls conquer the Pacific" (in en). https://www.voice-online.co.uk/sport/2023/08/09/team-antigua-island-girls-conquer-the-pacific/.
29. ↑ Hinds, Rodney (September 2023). "Tough as they come". The Voice: pp. 47.
30. ↑ Noel, Melissa (2022-01-26). "Team Antigua Island Girls will hit the seas again for new challenge" (in en-US). https://thegrio.com/2022/01/26/antigua-island-girls-rowing-challenge/.
31. ↑ "Atlantic Campaigns Partners | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race" (in en-GB). http://www.atlanticcampaigns.com/partners.
32. ↑ "2015 Leaderboard | Atlantic Campaigns Ocean Rowing Race" (in en-GB). http://www.atlanticcampaigns.com/2015-leaderboard/.
33. ↑ "Liz Wardley sets new record in transatlantic row" (in en). https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/news/14673_Liz-Wardley-sets-new-record-in-transatlantic-row/.
34. ↑ Sorbello, Nikki (2024-12-17). "Call of adventure pulls solo female rower to sea three times" (in en-AU). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-18/elliott-heads-rower-liz-wardley-goes-to-sea-three-times-qld/104730264.

## External links

* Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2015
* Ocean Rowing Stats
* Atlantic Rowing Race 2009
* Atlantic Rowing Race 2005
* Woodvale Events
* Association of Ocean Rowers[Usurped!]
* Ocean Rowing Society International
* BBC report of the 2005 start
* BBC report – Champagne for Beer Rowers

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