Bugle Summer 2026 - Flipbook - Page 40
7 RIFLES
WORLD’S
TOUGHEST ROW
After following the World’s Toughest Row
for several years, I became completely
captivated by the challenge and inspired
by teams each year. In 2022, I decided to
enter the race, giving myself three years to
prepare for one of the greatest adventures
imaginable – rowing 3,000 miles across the
Atlantic Ocean.
Preparation involved far more than simply
getting fit. There was physical and mental
training, fundraising, mandatory safety
courses and countless hours on the water.
By the time our team, Row with the Flow,
arrived in La Gomera for the two-week race
preparations, years of hard work had already
gone into getting to the start line.
The atmosphere on the island was
incredible. Days were spent completing safety
compliance inspections and confirmation
rows, and passing all the final checks made
everything we had done feel worthwhile. Bad
weather delayed the start by two days, but
eventually we set off alongside the rest of the
fleet, bound for Antigua.
The first 48 hours proved to be some of the
toughest of the entire crossing. Rough seas
and seasickness affected the whole fleet,
and simply trying to eat and sleep became
a challenge. Gradually, we settled into our
routine of rowing two hours on and two
hours off, twenty-four hours a day.
Life on the ocean became wonderfully
simple. Everything revolved around rowing,
eating and sleeping. Power came solely from
our solar panels, so we constantly had to
manage our energy usage to ensure we could
run the water-maker and desalinate enough
drinking water. Even charging our speaker
became a luxury, and the middle-of-the-night
shifts were always hardest, especially when
we had to row in silence.
The Finish Line
One of the most memorable aspects of
the crossing was the wildlife. After twenty
days at sea, we were visited by a huge pod of
dolphins that played around the boat; later,
three inquisitive orcas appeared and spent
time investigating us. Hundreds of flying
fish skimmed across the water throughout
the journey. The sunsets and sunrises were
unlike anything I had ever experienced, while
the night skies, untouched by light pollution,
were simply spectacular.
Then, after 42 days at sea, we finally
caught sight of Antigua, around 25 miles
away. The excitement provided so much
energy to push hard for the final miles. From
that moment on, all three of us were on the
oars almost continuously but, in truth, part
Crossing
the 昀椀nish
line was
easily
the most
incredible
experience
of my life
of us didn’t want the adventure to end.
Crossing the finish line was easily the
most incredible experience of my life.
Only then did it truly sink in what we had
achieved. Six weeks after leaving La Gomera,
we enjoyed our first fresh food and were
reunited with family and friends. Row with
the Flow completed the crossing in 42 days, 9
hours and 31 minutes, having covered a total
distance of 3,156 miles and placing second in
the women’s class.
Three years of preparation culminated
in 42 days at sea. The crossing tested us in
ways we could never have imagined, but the
memories and friendships formed along the
way will stay with me forever.
LCpl Tong, HQ Coy
Row with the Flow
40 RIFLES The Bugle
