News story

Army team claim third place in Atlantic rowing challenge

Four service personnel have completed the world's toughest rowing race – the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 22 January 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Row2Recovery team celebrates completion of the race

The Row2Recovery crew of 2 amputee and 2 able-bodied soldiers set off on 3 December last year to row an epic 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

After an exhausting 48 days, 9 hours and 13 minutes at sea the team touched land on the tiny Caribbean island of Antigua, securing an amazing third place overall.

The 4-man crew is made up of skipper Captain James Kayll, Captain Mark Jenkins, Corporal Cayle Royce and Corporal Scott Blaney.

Corporal Royce was wounded in Afghanistan in May 2012 when he stepped on an explosive device which resulted in above-the-knee amputation of both legs and the loss of several fingers on his left hand.

From left: Corporal Cayle Royce, Captain James Kayll, Corporal Scott Blaney and Captain Mark Jenkins [Picture: Ben Duffy]

Corporal Blaney had to have an above-the-knee amputation, also as a result of a bomb-blast in Afghanistan, in 2007.

Despite their injuries both service personnel are committed to still enjoying life to the full, and that’s why they took on the Atlantic challenge.

Speaking via a satellite link from the mid-Atlantic, Captain Jenkins said:

It’s been hugely challenging for Scott and Cayle, not just the rowing itself, but things like getting from one end of the boat to the other. They have shared their hardship and developed a great camaraderie.

The Row2Recovery team celebrate with the obligatory champagne shower [Picture: Ben Duffy]

And it certainly wasn’t all plain sailing, as when the crew began the race they had to cope with 2 weeks of storms.

In mid-December the Row2Recovery boat capsized in the middle of the night when 2 huge waves crashed into it and the crew and much of their kit was thrown overboard.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, telephoned the crew last Friday as they were on the final stretch of their journey with land almost in sight. He told them:

This is the most stunning example of courage, grit and determination that the Army has seen for a long time.

You can read about the crew’s adventures in their own words on the Row2Recovery Atlantic blog.

Published 22 January 2014