12/02/2026
The docks are quiet now, just the clanking of sail ropes, and there’s an emptiness.
I’m heading back to London later, heart full, cards empty; ready to start work again on Monday. But this Atlantic season of the World's Toughest Row was my best yet (I think I say this every year!) My highlights, in no particular order:
- All finishers completed the 3,000-mile crossing in under 60 days
- Arrivals compressed into just 28 days, from first boat to last - which must be the fastest fleet ever
- 11 teams arrived at night and there were 7 arrivals at sunrise or sunset
- 1 torrential rainstorm arrival, plus a couple of memorable podium wettings
- 5 world records set and a wave of firsts, including Mexico and Estonia taking part for the first time
- 42 trips out to sea on Marion with skipper-extraordinaire Maurice Belgrave
- Sharing tears, laughter, disbelief, relief, and long silences with the rowers as reality caught up
- Many hours, day and night, alongside the brilliant World’s Toughest Row team, watching human moments unfold in completely different ways
- Over 1,000 memories/images delivered
At the end of it all, I have a sense of how collectively together this fleet was. My gratitude to them all for being pioneers and adventurers and legends - across all ages - and making it possible for me to be a witness to these inspirational journeys.
Lastly, a more serious matter. Every year I run a personal "best beard" competition - just because I love beards ;-) This year, I couldn’t choose just one… so I’m celebrating my favourite salty six. Enjoy them!
