Atlantic Nomads smash 'the world's toughest rowing challenge '

Together with teammates James Woolley, 37, and Taylor Winyard, 29, Tom Rose, who lives in Manningtree, has tested every aspect of his mental and physical resilience in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The Atlantic Nomads, as they called themselves, embarked on a 3,000-mile challenge from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua and Barbuda in aid of Alabaré Homes for Veterans.

The charity provides supported accommodation for British Armed Forces veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The team started their voyage in December and crossed the finish line tenth, after 40 days of battling gigantic waves, dehydration and sleep deprivation.

The trio spent 40 days rowing across the Atlantic Ocean Picture: Penny Bird

They also became the first mixed gender crew to reach Antigua.

Tom said: “We didn’t have the roughest of starts so the first week was fairly calm, which meant we could get used to moving around all the time.

“I was a little bit sea sick on day two, but that passed pretty quickly.

“Rowing effectively as a trio was always going to be a challenge, but doing it in the extreme heat with little wind was proving to be brutal.

“We rowed for two hours on and one hour off each.

“That one hour off you had to do everything – sleep, eat, your admin, navigation and your boat maintenance.

'Yum' - Taylor Winyard,29 with a pack of dehydrated food

Three people stuck on the same 28 feet boat was definitely a challenge, but Tom said they made “the right team” so their dynamics worked really well and the mood was always good.

Even if that meant spending Christmas battling 25 feet waves and eating dehydrated food.

Tom added: “After about ten to 15 days we were all saying we were exhausted, but your body just copes and adapts and you all keep going.

“You body will keep going and performing long after your mind gives up.”

Visit atlanticnomads.co.uk.