Select a region
After nearly two months of gruelling conditions, a birthday at sea, aching muscles and eggy smells… A team of four Jersey mums has completed a 3,000-mile race known as the ‘world’s toughest row’, and snatched a world record.
Julie Brady, Helene Monpetit, Rosemary Satchwell and Alison Smithurst set off from the Canary Island of La Gomera at the start of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge at 8.29am on 13 December.
Competing as Intrepid 232 – the figure representing their combined ages – the crew's boat 'Black Squid' was one of 38 taking part in the 3,000-mile race to Antigua.
Their aim had been to become the oldest female crew to cross the Atlantic – a record that seemed to be in their grasp until last week when gruelling conditions pushed them to "breaking point" and at risk of having to be towed in.
But, after spending Thursday night on "para-anchor", the determined team barrelled towards Antigua at a fast pace on Friday.
Video: The Intrepid232 team arriving to huge applause from supporters.
Finally, after 58 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes at sea, the team finally made it to the shore at 17:30 local time as world record breakers to the wild applause of family, friends and supporters.
Just moments after their arrival, Alison said the team were "so relieved".
"We just didn't think we would get this moment. The last 10 days have been hell," she said.
That "hell" saw the team completely stuck around 30 nautical miles from the island and unable to push towards the finish. The team were stuck in the "stressful situation" of being pushed north, south, east and sometimes barely progressing at all.
Despite this, Rosemary said the team remained determined.
"We have worked for 2.5 years to get to this stage and we weren't going to give it up that easily! We did not want to fail!"
Alison added: "Especially in the last 10 days, you can't fail at that point, not when you have gone that far!"
It wasn't just weather conditions that made their journey tough.
Early on in the trip, the team had to contend with a "horrible smell" which remained a mystery for some time. It later emerged that a hard-boiled egg had escaped from their food store and become squashed under a mattress.
On shore, Alison reflected that she looked forward to being able to "eat proper food" – and actually be "able to sit up straight".
The oar-some team arrived as this year's 28th boat, and took the world record from ‘Yorkshire Rows’ – another four mums in a boat. Their predecessors had a combined age of 188 years and 342 days at the start in the 2015 Atlantic race, while the Jersey crew set the new record with an average age of 58 years, adding more than 43 years to the record.
Alison credited the "absolutely awesome" support the team had received for keeping them going throughout the trials and tribulations of the world's toughest row, adding: "We have been absolutely astounded, actually.
"People who we don't even know have sent us messages."
Hundreds of islanders and supporters from further afield rushed to congratulate the team on social media.
"Just magnificent. You have done Jersey proud, mums proud and those of us over a certain age proud," said one Facebook commenter.
"You are incredible. Quite how you recover from this is beyond me but if anyone can do it, it's you four. I didn't really engage in the enormity of your challenge until over halfway in. From then, I was in complete awe. Huge congratulations you amazing bunch."
Another said: "Amazing - I’d love to see their story made into a film. Come on filmmakers, pick this one up!"
Throughout the race, Team Intrepid were fundraising for the Grace Crocker Foundation and the Blue Marine Foundation.
The team’s fundraising page can be found here.
Jersey crew "running on fumes"... but still battling to realise trans-Atlantic dream
Keep going! Chances of world record slipping from Jersey rowers
Intrepid Jersey crew within 24 hours of "emotional" finish to Atlantic race
Intrepid rowers battle weather conditions on final approach to trans-Atlantic finish line
Behind the shots: How Connect captured the Intrepid232 training session
Jersey mums embarking on ‘world’s toughest row’ secure law firm sponsorship
WATCH: Jersey mums aim to smash ‘world’s toughest row’ record
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.