A Teignmouth man has rowed 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean and completed ‘The World’s Toughest Row’.

Tim Cox, a watersports instructor from Teignmouth, and friend, Andy Purvis, arrived in English Harbour, Antigua, earlier today (January 29) after 49 days, 8 hours and 53 minutes at sea.

As Tim steered and Andy rowed the last few metres before lifting flares in celebration, the emotion was clear to see on their faces.

Rowing as ‘Oar Mighty Mates 2C’, Tim and Andy left La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 11 and were the 24th team to reach the finish line in Antigua.

The pair endured tough seas and even survived their 7.3m fibreglass Rannoch Adventure boat capsizing, sending Andy overboard, to complete the epic feat.

‘On the fourth day, we capsized. That says it all really. But we got back up and went on from that,’ said Andy. ‘I couldn’t have asked for a better guy to be with,’ he continued.

Tim and Andy were finally reunited with their loved ones on what would have been Tim’s father’s birthday. Tim’s father passed away just a couple of weeks before the start of the challenge.

‘Everyone’s story is different,’ Tim said. ‘But it’s been absolutely fantastic.’

Tim, who runs SeaSports South West with his wife Sue, has been working with ‘The World’s Toughest Row’ since 2012 to train participants and provide weather routing services so it was only a matter of time before he was tempted to actually take part. When Andy asked him, he couldn’t say no.

Andy was supposed to take part in the 2023 challenge, but his rowing partner pulled out just before the event was due to start. Having met Tim on a safety training course, he was an obvious candidate to be his new partner.

More people have climbed Everest than rowed the Atlantic. Not only have Tim and Andy managed the Herculean effort of rowing 3000 miles, they have also raised over £20,000 for their chosen charities: Dementia UK and Abigail’s footsteps. The pair hope to increase this total even further. Tim lost his father-in-law to dementia last year and Andy lost both his grandfather and his mother to the condition. Donations can be made via the Oar Mighty Mates website.

Tim and Andy were keen to thank all their supporters, particularly the team from ‘The World’s Toughest Row’, their shore crew, their fundraising team, Tim’s wife Sue, for the cakes she provided that helped sustain them over the 49 days and everyone who donated to their charities. ‘There are so many people we want to thank and we will try and do so personally over the coming days,’ Tim said.

Tim and Andy had said that they were mostly looking forward to a hot bath and a decent sleep on arrival. However, the tropical heat of Antigua and the excitement of completing the once-in-a-lifetime challenge, might have shifted their priorities now they have reached dry land.