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Rugby player Damian Browne completes solo row across Atlantic Ocean

The Irishman travelled more than three thousand miles without a support vessel 
The Irishman travelled more than three thousand miles without a support vessel

After nine weeks of hardship and isolation, former professional rugby player Damian Browne has successfully finished rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

The journey saw the Irishman travel more than three thousand miles without a support vessel and involved several complications, including capsizing twice in one day, suffering bloody facial injuries during high seas, and a near-miss with a cargo ship.

As he approached the finish at Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua he stopped rowing and stood up in his boat, roaring with relief and waving an Irish flag,

He said: “What a challenge. What a journey. What a nine weeks. I lived every second of it and I still can’t believe I did it."

Browne took on the voyage as part of the Atlantic Challenge, a race that is dubbed “the world’s toughest row”.

Damian Browne approaches the finish at Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua
Damian Browne at the finish at Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua

He came 21st in the race and was the final rower to come to shore. Five crews did not continue.

More people have climbed Everest and been into space than successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic.

Before setting off from the Canary Islands he trained for two years for the challenge by rowing up and and down the west coast of Ireland.

The race requires solo rowers to transport all of the clean water and the food that they need for the journey inside their boat.

The boat Browne used for the challenge was just over seven metres long with two small cabins, one of which had space for him to sleep in and shelter from the elements.

Damian Browne
He trained for two years for the challenge

Prior to taking on the Atlantic Challenge the Irishman had no maritime experience and he did not know how to swim.

Browne has completed several other extreme endurance challenges including the Marathon des Sables, a 156-mile run across the Moroccan Sahara, and climbing mountains in Afghanistan.

Damian Browne’s career as a professional rugby player spanned 16-years and included stints competing in Ireland’s Celtic League, the French Top 14 Championship, and the English Premiership.