We are delighted to report that Harry Hearn and the Oardacity team; Ed Batchelor, Alex Soskin and Tom Phillips, have successfully rowed 3000 miles across the Atlantic. Having left La Gomera, Canary Islands on the 12th December, they arrived in Antigua, Caribbean on the 21st January, completing the race in a breath-taking 40 days, 6 hours and 35 mins!
Using their crossing as a platform to raise much needed awareness and funds towards Mental Health, Harry and the team have raised a staggering, £100,000 for MIND and The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF).
Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation is an international NGO, dedicated to serving the world’s oppressed and marginalised children. The charity is dedicated to serving the physical, medical, educational and emotional needs of vulnerable children.
“It’s very difficult to put into words the feelings and emotions associated with this expedition. It was, on regular occasions, the most terrifying experience of my life and on others, the most breath-taking and magical experience you could imagine. After week one on the boat, the race itself became an isolated battle with mother nature and an appreciation and realisation that that she (the ocean) was going to dictate our 3,000 mile row. Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable was the major hurdle, both physically and mentally. As the race went on, the mental challenge became far greater than the physical. Our bodies were strong, but our minds became even stronger.
We were spoilt with an incredible wildlife show that included turtles, tuna, dorado, dolphins and whales. However, one of my most special and quite spiritual memories was being visited by a white moth/butterfly around 1000 miles out to sea. Alongside this, the night sky, with quite literally thousands of shooting stars and comets crashing through the earth’s atmosphere. Combine this with luminescence of the green algae from every oar stroke, the night rows resembled a scene out of the movie Avatar – it is very difficult to put into words quite how spectacular this was.
Undertaking this challenge and completing it with three of my great mates, was a privilege and honour. Arriving in Antigua having got through an intense 2/3 years of preparation, combined with the uncertainty that Covid caused and then 40 days at sea would have tested any friendship, but finishing as the ‘Band of Brothers’ that we are is our greatest achievement and one I am most proud of.
This was a truly life changing and humbling experience. It is very difficult to justify the feelings and sentiments surrounding our row across the pond, which I believe defines how special it was. To use our crossing as a platform to drive a change around the stigma and taboo that surrounds mental health; supporting those men, women and children whose mental well-being is suffering each day, has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. On behalf of the boys and I, we can’t thank Per Ardua, our friends, family, corporate partners and sponsors enough – the support has been overwhelming and to raise over £100,000 for MIND and CNCF is quite staggering. Thank you.”
If you didn’t catch them arriving and would like to watch it back, you can use the following links:
Arrival Part 1: https://fb.watch/3b2tkoQs2q/
Arrival Part 2: https://fb.watch/3b2lebj7N4/
