Rowing the Atlantic isn’t just physically demanding—it’s mentally, emotionally, and logistically extreme. These facts offer a glimpse into what solo rowers face day after day while crossing more than 3,000 miles of open ocean, entirely human-powered.
If something sounds unbelievable, that’s because it usually is.
Each team rows over 1.5 million oar strokes during a single crossing.
Rowers regularly experience waves measuring up to 20 feet high.
Team Fortitude IV holds the record, covering 107.45 nautical miles in 24 hours.
A four-man team, The Four Oarsmen, completed the crossing in 29 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes.
At its deepest point, the Atlantic Ocean reaches 8.5 km (5.28 miles).
On average, each rower uses about 800 sheets of toilet paper during the race
Temperatures can range from 10°C (50°F) during early night shifts to over 30°C (90°F) with high humidity near the finish.
Yes. In 2016, solo rower Daryl Farmer completed the crossing in 96 days, rowing nearly 1,200 miles without a rudder.
Dutch rower Mark Slats holds the world record for both fastest solo and fastest pair crossings—his solo time is the faster of the two.
Rowers burn over 5,000 calories per day during the race.
No. Rowers use a bucket, there are no onboard toilets.
The average rower loses 8–12 kg (17–26 lbs) during the crossing.
Yes. In the 2018 race, solo rower Kelda Wood was accompanied by a whale for nearly seven days.
Yes. Danish ocean rowing legend Lasse Wulff Hansen has completed the Atlantic route three times and also crossed the Pacific in 2023.
All crew members must be clipped into the boat’s jackstay with a three-point safety harness whenever on deck.
More people have summited Everest or traveled into space than have successfully rowed an ocean.
Yes. Boats in multiple races have been attacked by marlins, requiring mid-race repairs.
At the midpoint of the race, participants are closer to astronauts aboard the International Space Station than to any land.
Yes. Due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation, hallucinations are common during the race.
