Bristol student becomes youngest to row across the Atlantic

They spent 47 days on the open sea


Freddie Wright, a mechanical engineer at Bristol University, and Jack Galsworthy who studies at UCL have become the youngest men to row across the Atlantic unaided.

Mad for it Credit: Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

The two 21-year-olds were taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, taking it in turns to row in two-hour shifts across the gruelling 3000 mile expanse of water.

The pair set off from Gomera in the Canary Islands and arrived 47 days and 14 hours later in Antigua in the Caribbean, joining a group of people smaller in size than those that have climbed Everest.

Competing under the title “Atlantic Castaways”, the team came an impressive 10th place out of the 26 teams taking part in the intense challenge.

3000 miles later… Credit: Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

Both Freddie and Jack faced many challenges during their trip, with stormy weather forcing them to retreat to their cabin where they sweated so profusely that both of their iPods were completely destroyed. The tropical storm they encountered was the first of its kind to form in the area since 1978.

However, the team also had some incredible encounters with nature, being joined by groups of dolphins and whales at different points along the way.

Steph Harris, Bristol SU’s Sport and Student Development Officer has rightly said: “Freddie and Jack have achieved something absolutely extraordinary”.

Along with breaking the record, the boys also raised an amazing £37,000 for the Brain Research Trust.

Channelling their inner Eastern European football fan Credit: Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

Stoic and humble, Freddie said: “We’ve had such an amazing time, we’re proud of the record but it wasn’t what we set out to do. It’s really just a bonus on top of what has been an awesome experience. We would definitely do this again.”

Alongside Freddie and Jack, Callum Gathercole, another Bristol student, took part in the race on his own and was around 500 miles from the finish at the time that the pair finished their journey, and will (if he finishes) himself become the youngest solo person to complete the challenge.