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Across the Ocean

More people have been into space or climbed Mount Everest than have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. However, on 5 December 2011, Jamie Windsor and John Haskell, two firefighters from Cardiff, Wales, set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. Their goal was to row all the way to Barbados in the Caribbean within a few weeks.

The men decided to take part in the Atlantic Dash after John’s wife was diagnosed with cancer. They wanted to raise money for a charity that supports people with the disease. Their families supported them, although they were surprised because neither Jamie nor John had any previous rowing experience. For five months, they trained hard in Cardiff Bay. Still, nothing could truly prepare them for the long days and nights in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Their specially designed boat allowed them to survive independently at sea. They had a device that turned seawater into drinking water, and their food was stored in waterproof containers. According to the race rules, at least one person had to be rowing at all times. As a result, they worked in shifts: two hours of rowing followed by two hours of rest. The lack of sleep was very difficult, especially for John, who began to experience hallucinations. Once, he believed he was talking to an old man riding a bicycle next to their boat.

The journey was extremely challenging. They faced some of the worst storms of the new millennium, with waves reaching up to 10–15 meters high. They also saw sharks and nearly collided with a large cargo ship during a storm.

Throughout the trip, they kept in touch with supporters by posting updates on Twitter and through a website that tracked their progress. At first, they expected the journey to take around 70 days. Surprisingly, they completed it in less than 46 days—just a few days short of breaking the record for crossing the Atlantic in a wooden rowing boat.

On 20 January 2012, they finally arrived in Barbados. Their families, friends, and fellow firefighters were there to welcome them. Most importantly, they achieved their main goal: raising more than £25,000 for charity.

Why did Jamie and John decide to cross the Atlantic?

How long did they train before the journey?