More people have climbed Everest than have rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. Some do it as part of an organized race, others as solo adventurers in rowboats, canoes, or—believe it or not—once in a barrel. The Atlantic is wild, unpredictable, and unforgiving, yet every year, a handful of daring individuals take on this monumental challenge. Among them are the rowers of The Atlantic Dash, the world’s longest row, who don’t just cross the ocean—they battle it, mile by mile, wave by wave, until they reach Jolly Harbour, Antigua.
Now, after months at sea, battling relentless waves, sleep deprivation, and even a curious blue marlin, Antigua’s Ruby and Steff are the first rowers of Atlantic Dash 2025 to finally arrive in Antigua! Their journey—a staggering 3,200-mile trek across the Atlantic—was an odyssey of triumphs, tribulations, and some truly tragic meal mishaps.
Atlantic Dash: A Race with a Difference
The Atlantic Dash isn’t just another ocean rowing event. It’s designed to make extreme endurance rowing more accessible. Let’s be honest—who wakes up thinking, You know what? I fancy rowing across the Atlantic!?
Alex Mason and Billy Taylor are the power behind the Atlantic Dash; they believe that if you think you can’t, they’ll show you can. To prove it, they have already rowed the Atlantic themselves. Billy’s next little challenge is to row 5000 miles across the Indian Ocean! For the Dash, they cut costs, offer one-on-one support, and actively champion diversity in a sport that demands just as much mental resilience as it does physical endurance. Billy Taylor explained, “The ‘Dash’ comes from Linda Ellis’ poem—it’s about ‘the dash between the years,’ the time between birth and death. Essentially, it’s about what you choose to do with your life.”
This year, four brave teams took on the challenge:
Waves to Awareness (crewed by the fearless Antiguan duo, Steffan Evans and Ruby Coates), in the vanguard;
Followed closely by solo British rower Gary Hutchins alone against the elements in Polyanne;
The next teams are neck and neck, only hours behind. Cruising Free is a ladies’ foursome from the UK;
In the rearguard, but likely to overtake the ladies, Row For It, is four Guys from the UK, rowing hard.
Originally a four-person crew, Steff and Ruby found themselves down to just two rowers when teammates had to drop out. That meant double the workload, half the rest, and a whole lot more ocean to conquer.
A Tiny Boat, A Giant Ocean
Rowing is physically grueling, but Alex Mason says the mental challenge is even worse.
“It’s a tough, hostile, and unforgiving environment. You’re sleep-deprived, using a bucket for a toilet, and there’s no shower. You really get to know who you are out there.”
For nearly 50 days, rowers live aboard a boat just 9 meters long and 2 meters wide. Their sleeping space? The size of a small double bed. Their bathroom? A bucket. Their lifeline? Each other.
With no support boat, they carried everything they needed—food, medical supplies, and their all-important navigation gear. But the Atlantic had its own plans, serving up towering waves, fierce winds, and the occasional uninvited guest.
Highs, Lows, and Noodles Lost to the Sea
Sometimes, the ocean throws curveballs that are almost funny—like when a long-awaited plain noodle dinner (yes, fine dining at sea) ended up feeding the local fish. After patiently waiting for the water to boil, Steff and Ruby managed to spill the entire meal overboard. Good job they both have a sense of humour!
Just when they thought they’d seen it all, including a close-up of whales, they had an unexpected visitor—a 9 feet long blue marlin.
At first, they thought they were about to witness a shark feeding frenzy. Instead, they found themselves stalked by this ocean giant, which suddenly charged straight for their boat.
In a desperate bid to deter it, Steff and Ruby banged on the deck and splashed their oars. The marlin, unfazed, swam perilously close—at one point, gliding right underneath them. The force of its movement sent a rush of water through the boat, giving Steff a heart-pounding “Did that really just happen?” moment.
Thankfully, no damage was done—just an unforgettable encounter with one of the ocean’s most majestic (and slightly terrifying) creatures.
When the Ocean Fights Back
By Day 47, with less than 300 miles to go, the teams faced their toughest battle yet—a tropical depression.
Fierce northerly winds pushed them backwards at 0.5 miles per hour—an excruciatingly slow pace after weeks of relentless rowing. Forced to drop the sea-anchor repeatedly, the teams were stuck, watching their hard-earned progress slip away.
This, said Alex is mentally one of the hardest moments. They had been gearing up for the final push, only to realize they’d need to dig even deeper for another week at sea.
“Some of them weren’t making any progress—some even went backwards,” she said
Still, they refused to quit. One oar stroke at a time, they kept pushing forward.
The Finish Line at Last
As a final flourish, arrival day on Tuesday brought strong winds and squalls; needle-like rain made it difficult to row through, but finally the exhausted rowers made their approach to Jolly Harbour; against the wind! With the finish line passed, the first two boats are spending a night aboard, tantalisingly close, waiting for daylight to make a triumphant entry into Jolly Harbour where crowds await! The
After 3,200 grueling miles, over a month of sleep deprivation, and an adventure of a lifetime, with ABSAR keeping a careful watch, the first Atlantic Dash rowers have arrived to cheers, relief, and (probably) dreams of real food and a solid bed. Rowing in to Asher Otto – and Ruby – singing “home,” Ruby and Steff were closely followed by solo rower Gary Hutchins in Pollyanne. For Steff and Ruby, it’s rowing home. Island girl Kevinia Francis said it makes a difference; “knowing you’re rowing home is a powerful driver.”
Their journey wasn’t just about crossing an ocean—it was about proving that limits exist only in the mind. The Atlantic tried to break them, but it only made them stronger.
Now, a well-earned rest, a massive feast, and—just maybe—another insane adventure on the horizon. Because if this journey proved anything, it’s that these rowers don’t just cross oceans.
They conquer them.
