How long does it take to row across the Atlantic Ocean?
Answering the question: How long does it take to row across the Atlantic Ocean isn’t as simple as saying it takes 40 or 50 days. The real answer is: it can take years.
How long does a journey of 61 days really take?
Atlantic Rocks, Atlantic Dash 2024
How long does it take to row across the Atlantic Ocean?
Most people spend a long time thinking about doing it before they actually commit to making it a reality.
Rowing across the Atlantic is a monumental feat that challenges the limits of human endurance. It is an epic journey that will test not only physical strength, but also mental resilience – and that’s just on the journey to get to the start line!
Getting to the start line
Getting to the start line takes time and dedication and is a large part of the overall journey. From our experience, the average campaign takes between 1-2 years to pull together (but that doesn’t mean it can't be done quicker than that).
To ensure a safe and successful crossing you have to consider;
Raising Funds
You may be one of the lucky few who can pay out of your own pocket, but most people have to find the money from somewhere else. Some people choose to borrow the money or take out a loan, but the more common option is to find corporate sponsors…
Finding sponsors
This is probably the hardest part of ocean rowing. Be prepared to have 99 people saying no and 1 person saying yes. A huge amount of time goes into researching, emailing, following up, calling etc. Most successes are down to the luck of talking to the right person at the right time. In reality sponsors don’t get a big return on their investment and most people invest because they like you as a person or they have a connection to the cause you are supporting.
It can be beneficial (although not essential) to have a USP (unique selling point) to attract sponsors, for example; the oldest person to row the Atlantic. But with more and more people taking part in the sport, these UPSs are getting harder to find.
Finding and buying a boat
This is one of your biggest hurdles. Once you have a boat other things start falling into place (and potential sponsors take you more seriously). There are a couple of places we would recommend looking: we have a page on this website where we advertise boats for sale, also the ocean rowing society facebook page often advertises boats for sale. Another option is to contact crews who are rowing before you and ask them if they are looking to sell their boat after their crossing. If you can afford it, and you have the time, you can have a new boat made.
Sourcing equipment and supplies
Whether you have a second hand boat or you have a new one made, you will need to equip it. Navigation and safety equipment, communications, food, medical supplies, clothing…
If you enter the Atlantic Dash you will have access to exclusive discounts (and some freebies) from our event partners to help with these costs.
Completing mandatory safety courses
Whether you choose to row as part of an event or you choose to row independently you will need to complete some basic safety courses such as Sea Survival, Essential Navigation and First Aid at Sea. Of course, if you choose the independent route you aren’t required by anyone to do these courses but we strongly recommend it.
Training
Ocean rowing is demanding physically (although not as demanding as you may first think; the challenge is around 70% mental and 30% physical). We recommend starting with a good base level of fitness to help prevent injury, so you will need a training plan and time to train prior to your crossing. With the sport increasing in popularity, there are now dedicated ocean rowing coaches who will train you in all aspects of ocean rowing.
Spending time on the water
This is really important, probably more important than physical training. Spending time on the water and getting to know every inch of your boat will make troubleshooting when you're in the middle of the Atlantic a lot easier.
Shipping
You will need to ship your boat to the starting point, this takes time. How long depends on which country you are shipping from.
Organising time off work / life at home
Ocean rowing isn’t a solo journey, especially if you have a family at home. You need to think about the impact it will have on them while you are away. Do you need to find cover for your job or business? Do you need to arrange child care or support? Do you have contingency if your crossing takes longer than expected?
Don’t underestimate the roles that friends and family have in supporting your crossing. From coordinating logistics and supplies to providing emotional support and encouragement, support crews work tirelessly, and selflessly, behind the scenes to help facilitate your journey.
A weather router
Most crews employ a weather router to ensure they are on the best course across the Atlantic and to avoid any weather fronts as they develop. If you are part of the Atlantic Dash we provide the best weather router in the business.
Search and rescue insurance
Insurance for a challenge like this can be difficult to find. Not many people want to insure something that is so risky. If it does all go wrong at sea and you end up having to be rescued, there is the potential for a large bill at the end of it.
If you do need to be rescued it is likely that the nearest vessel will pick you up, and they will take you to wherever they are going, which might be a long way from where you want to be.
If you enter the Atlantic Dash we provide search and rescue insurance for you.
Land support
You will need a good support system at home. Who will you call if you are in an emergency? Who will you call if you have medical issues? Do you want to tell your story via social media? If you are raising money for charity you might want PR support to strengthen your campaign.
Departure logistics
Where are you going to leave from and how are you going to get there? You cannot leave from anywhere, for example, the organisers of the ”World’s Toughest Row” ban independent rowers from leaving from La Gomera. You will need to think about how long you need to either tow your boat, or have your boat shipped, to the departure point.
Arrival logistics
As with departure, you also cannot arrive anywhere you choose. You are not allowed to enter Antigua via English Harbour unless you are part of the “World’s Toughest Row”.
On the water
The weather
The weather plays a huge part in the time it takes to row across the Atlantic. Unpredictable and often hostile and unhelpful, you will be at the mercy of the elements. There can be strong winds, heavy rain, and powerful storms. Sometimes this means you can spend hours, or even days, being blown back towards where you started from, resulting in a long crossing time. Sometimes the weather can turn in your favour and on days like these you will fly along, resulting in a quicker crossing time.
There can also be days when there is no weather at all. Not a breath of wind. Not a ripple on the water. Not a cloud in the sky. Days like these are often more challenging than the days with “bad” weather and you will feel like you are rowing through treacle.
Physical challenges
You will suffer physically. You will be sleep deprived and in a calorie deficit. You will be contending with sea sickness, muscle wastage, fatigue, saltwater sores and blisters as you adapt to life on the ocean. This means as the row progresses you may get slower, and as your body begins to break down things may get harder.
Mental Challenges
It’s all in the mind.
Rowing an ocean is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Spending weeks or months at sea, in a tiny space smaller than a prison cell, isolated, with nothing but an endless ocean all around you, is far more challenging for your brain than it is your body. You will battle boredom, loneliness and angst as you have more time to think than you ever will have had before.
It is advisable to develop some coping strategies to maintain your mental health while at sea, otherwise a 2 month crossing can feel like it is taking a whole lot longer.
You may not be able to control the weather or the development of arse blisters, but you can control your reaction to it.
History of cross Atlantic Rows
The first ocean rowed across was the Atlantic by Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo, two Norwegian-born Americans. Starting in New York in June 1896, they arrived in the Isles of Scilly 55 days and 13 hours later.
It would be 70 years before the Atlantic was crossed again and in 1966 John Ridgway and Chay Blyth crossed from Cape Cod to Ireland in a time of 92 days.
The first solo crossing of an ocean was completed by John Fairfax of Britain on 19 July 1969. He rowed from Gran Canaria to Florida in 180 days, which remains the longest crossing of the Atlantic to this day.
Now, in the 21st century, the most common crossing is from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, referred to as the Mid Atlantic, with over 700 attempts.
2017 saw a record breaking year in the ocean rowing world with The Four Oarsmen setting a new world record time of 29 days, 13 hours, and 34 minutes. Mark Slats also set the world record for the fastest solo crossing with a time of 30 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes.
Cabbies Do Atlantic Row
Atlantic Dash 2023
Atlantic Dash Crossing Times
2023
Cabbies Do Atlantic Row (3 x male)
59 days 15 hours 08 minutesAtlantic Dragons (2 x male)
60 days 18 hours 14 minutes
2024
The Brightsides (4 x mixed)
52 days 18 hours 53 minutesAtlantic Rocks (4 x male)
61 days 19 hours 13 minutesDestiny’s Tide (2 x male)
DNF
In Conclusion
Rowing across the Atlantic isn’t just about the time you spend rowing from point A to point B, it’s about the entire journey, from the spark of the idea, to long after the crossing is finished.
Whether it takes you 1 year or 10 years to achieve, the experience of crossing the Atlantic will leave an indelible mark on your life, forever altering your perspective of yourself, your capabilities, and the world around you.
It can be a journey of self discovery and it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Above all, it is a reminder that, in the face of adversity, with courage, perseverance, and unwavering determination, anything is possible.
