PREVIEW

A Scottish farmer who had barely picked up an oar before, rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in just 49 days - making him the fastest Scot to ever achieve the feat solo. Henry Cheape had barely rowed before he signed up to the World’s Toughest Row challenge in March 2023. He set off on the monumental trip from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 13 December - and arrived in Antigua in the Caribbean on Wednesday exactly 49 days 12 hours and 11 minutes after his departure. He finished in fifth place in the solo class - but his record-breaking feat has led to him being dubbed 'The Flying Scotsman'. After a gruelling 3,000 miles aboard the PollyAnne - the R25 rowing boat that triumphed in its class for the 2022 Atlantic rac and with remote support from record-breaking ocean rower and weather router Angus Collins. Henry finally concluded his incredible oceanic feat and was cheered to shore by family and friends for the grand finale of what he described as ‘the adventure of a lifetime’. Henry undertook the adventure to raise £250,000 in funds for conservation and environmental charities. Despite surfing down waves and battling headwinds, Henry even ensured his voyage was sustainable as all his rubbish from the journey will be sorted and recycled.