The Row2Rio team celebrated on 23 April as they landed in Brazil, having rowed 3,400 nautical miles across the Atlantic ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

25 April

The Row2Rio team took 55 days to row from Lagos, Portugal to Recife, Brazil, earning them a place in the history books before the first athletes even compete in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Jake Heath, 29, Mel Parker, 28, Susannah Cass, 27 and 31-year-old Luke Richmond are now claiming the record for completing a new ocean rowing route, for mixed crew and a team of four.

The Atlantic row is part of a larger journey by the team to travel from London to Rio De Janerio, unsupported, using just man (and women) power to link the two Olympic host cities. Along the way, they are hoping to raise £125,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Speaking after finishing their epic row, Jake Heath said: “We did it, I can’t believe we actually rowed the Atlantic. It was trip was full of unknowns and it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am ecstatic. It surreal to think we have broken two world records, but for me the best bit is knowing we’re inspiring and raising money for such a good cause. Now on to the next bit, cycling into Rio.”

Row2Rio team arrive in Brazil

The final push for the Row2Rio team before they hit land

 

For most of the trip, the crew rowed in pairs in two hour shifts for 24 hours a day. They landed in Recife at 2030 (GMT) on 24 April after dealing with a broken auto tiller and battling currents and headwinds during the last week. This saw their speed slow to just 1.5 miles an hour.

The team set off on 9 January to cycle 1,495 miles from the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, to Lagos, Portugal. From Lagos, they departed on 29 February, beginning the 3,400 nautical mile row to Brazil. The crew had the full backing of the Ocean Rowing Society.

Speaking after the crew arrived, the society said: “This is a world first for this route, team of four and a mixed team…. an epic journey requiring months of mapping and planning before they even get on the water.”

For the final phase of their journey the team will cycle from Recife down the eastern coast of Brazil to Rio De Janeiro. This is expected to take four weeks.

Thanking the team, the fundraising manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, Lyndsey Cape said: “We’re extremely excited for the Row2Rio team to reach Brazil and have been following their progress closely since they left London in January. Not only are they breaking records and inspiring people ahead of the Olympics, their money will help Macmillan be there for even more people affected by cancer. Brave and dedicated fundraisers like the Row2Rio mean that we can continue to ensure no one faces cancer alone and we’re extremely grateful for their ongoing efforts.”

6 April

The team is due to set two world records ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics in August, by completing a new ocean-rowing route – a 3,400 nautical mile row across the Atlantic from Lagos, Portugal to Recife, Brazil.

A member of the Row2Rio crew, Jake Heath, says they’re all excited to have got this far.

“We’ve just crossed the equator and beginning our final leg of the trip, rowing into Recife, Brazil, which is overwhelming,” he said.

“This current stage will dictate whether we can get this new route done the way we want to. This part of our trip has never been rowed before, so it is full of unknowns, but it is what we set signed up to do, a new route across the Atlantic to Recife.”

With full backing from the Ocean Rowing Society, this is a route no other man or woman has completed, and the team, if successful, will break world records for a new ocean rowing route, for mixed crew and a team of four.

In a statement, the Ocean Rowing Society comments, “This is a world first for this route, team of four and a mixed team…. an epic journey requiring months of mapping and planning before they even get on the water.”

The team are rowing in two hour shift patterns, 24 hours a day.

The row across the Atlantic is part of a wider journey the mixed team of four are undertaking – travelling from London to Rio De Janerio, unsupported, using just man power to link the two Olympic host cities.

The Row 2 Rio crew who are rowing and cycling to Brazil ahead of Rio 2016 Olympics

The Row2Rio team

 

The team, which also includes Mel Parker, Susannah Cass and Luke Richmond, set off on 9 January to cycle 1,495 miles from the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, to Lagos, Portugal. From Lagos, they departed on 29 February, beginning a 3,400 nautical mile man-powered journey rowing the Atlantic to Brazil. 

For the final phase of their journey the team will cycle from Recife down the eastern coast of Brazil to Rio De Janeiro. This is expected to take four weeks.

Row2Rio also aims to raise £125,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support .

Crew member Mel Parker said: “This challenge is a personal one, one close to all of our hearts. We have all experienced someone close to use suffer from cancer and the support we received from Macmillan was incredible. We all realised in our own ways that we needed to give something back – it’s time to payback the kindness we received, with this challenge of a lifetime.”