Solo rower breaks Atlantic rowing record

Pitcher started in La Gomera, Canary Islands and followed the trade winds across the Atlantic finishing in Port St Charles, Barbados.
Boat speed is hugely dependent on weather conditions. In 2010, as part of the Woodvale Challenge, Pitcher set out to cross the Atlantic in record time but it ended up taking him 52 days with ten of those days spent being blown backwards. This crossing inspired Pitcher to do it again with the belief that if he got the right weather conditions then he could break the record.

The solo record was then broken by Andrew Brown during the 2012 Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge. Brown finished in 40 days 9 hours 41 min, just 26 minutes slower than the overall Challenge winners, a men’s double.

Pitcher’s time of 35 days, 33 minutes ranks him as faster than the fastest four and fastest double to row the Atlantic.

Right from the start Pitcher set out to break the World Record for a solo row of the Atlantic aiming to go under 40 days. After reaching Barbados, Pitcher wrote in his log, “As for the World record attempt? It was successful. I dreamed of being the first person to break 40 days to cross the Atlantic solo rowing.”

As well as ocean rowing Pitcher, 50, has completed ultra-running challenges including the Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara Desert. Pitcher plans to return to ultra-running.