Determined Royal Navy team nears end of "world's toughest row" after "very tough week rowing through treacle"

Four personnel have spent the past 22 days at sea aboard HMS Oardacious trying to reach the West Indies, despite being plagued by unfavourable weather. The rowers are one of more than 30 teams and individuals aiming to reach Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua and Barbuda.

They set off from the Canaries to complete the 3,000 mile trek, only powering the boat by oars with the currents and winds for support. The team have passed the 1,500 nautical-mile point, with 1,140 nautical miles still to go - roughly the distance from Portsmouth to Malta.

Headed up by its skipper, Commodore Richard Purdy, the team also consists of Warrant Officer 1 Liam Hoddy and two submariners, Lt Cdr Guy Wilton and Surg Lt Cdr Addison Taylor. The past week has been the toughest for the team since they set off.

Calm conditions in the mid-Atlantic - minimal breeze and relentless sun - has made ocean rowing extremely difficult. Lt Cdr Wilton, a weapons engineer by day, said: “It’s been a very tough week – we’ve had five or so days of almost no wind. It’s been like rowing through treacle and on top of that the sun has been oppressive – all the time.”

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This is the fifth Royal Navy team to row under the HMS Oardacious banner. An all female team completed the “world’s toughest row” last year with great fanfare. Money raised from the endeavour goes towards the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), which provides mental health and wellbeing support to serving personnel and their families.

So far, the initiative has raised more than £1m, with the 2025-2026 row hoping to add at least £20,000 to the total. The rowers treated themselves to quality Dutch chocolate to mark passing the 1,500-nautical-mile waypoint, following a can of gin and tonic on New Year’s Day and rum and coke . They celebrated Christmas Day by wearing Santa hats.

The team are in seventh place overall and fifth in their class, predicted to reach the finish line in Antigua around January 22. In the lead – as they have been since day one – are Swiss quartet 44 West, nearly 400 nautical miles ahead of HMS Oardacious. They could cross the line as early as eight days before the Royal Navy team.

You can keep up with the progress on the HMS Oardacious website. Donations can be made here.