5 days ago
Watford rowers smash record as they battle storms in Atlantic crossing
A team of veterans and an adventurer have smashed a world record as they row across the Atlantic in a challenge that has seen them battle storms and capsize.
Jack Jarvis, David 'Brucey' Bruce, Sam 'Nutty' Edwards, and Adam Radclife set out on the 3,500-mile journey from New York to Southampton on June 19 and are expected to reach the British coast on Friday or Saturday.
Only 11 such crossings have ever been completed in human history, and the four had already broken the world record for the distance rowed in 24 hours by the 12th day.
The team, rowing as Team United We Conquer, covered 140 nautical miles, smashing the previous record of 116 miles, having manned the oars in continuous three-hour shifts.
Left to right: Adam, Jack, Brucey, Nutty (Image: United We Conquer) The team are burning 8,000 calories a day with limited rations and no support boat.
Three storms have battered their tiny vessel, and six days were spent stuck in place with a parachute anchor as extreme weather made rowing impossible and navigation systems failed.
Adam and Jack are originally from Watford, with Adam, 28, growing up in Chorleywood and attending St Clement Danes School before moving to Bovingdon.
Despite a strong start, disaster struck on day seven as the boat capsized in violent seas and hurled the Watford pair into the freezing Atlantic.
Motivating them is the target of raising £50,000 for a veteran retreat centre for charity Head Up, which offers a lifeline for former servicepeople who survived war zones but are struggling back home.
View the fundraising page here
Jack, David, and Sam have served in the British Army or Royal Marines, and one of David's close friends took his own life this year.
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Anger as lift breakdown leaves residents 'prisoners in own homes'Adam is an adventurer and digital creator who is using his platform to help amplify the cause during the row.
Team United We Conquer on the open ocean (Image: United We Conquer)
Data shows 253 UK military veterans die by suicide annually and the charity provides mental health support and resilience training to help fight the trend.
Their target has already been broken, with £76,000 already set to go towards crisis calls, counselling sessions, and building the retreat centre, but the hope is that even more will be donated before they reach the shore.
Open ocean image from the row (Image: United We Conquer)
Adam has been sharing videos recorded on the open ocean as the vessel progresses across the 3,500-mile route and supporters can track live progress through the fundraiser's website.
Visit to donate.
Team United We Conquer rowing out from New York (Image: United We Conquer)
Team United We Conquer rowing out from New York (Image: United We Conquer)
