Although not many people have succeeded in rowing across the Atlantic, particularly by themselves, many have tried.
The first people to row across the Atlantic were Frank Samuelson and George Harbo, in 1896. After leaving Manhattan, New York, they arrived in Le Havre, France, via the Scilly Isles, 55 days later. I'm safe in the knowledge that they were far more silly than me. They had to rely on manual skills for navigation and had no real shelter in the boat. That just seems stupid really. Well done to them!
The first solo crossing was completed by John Fairfax in 1969, taking 180 days. The second crossing was completed only 8 days later by Tom McClean, despite having left nearly four months later than Fairfax.
Since those expeditions, nearly 300 crossings have been attempted, a great number of which have been unsuccessful. Nearly 50% of all solo-ocean rows have not been completed. Although in most of these the rowers were rescued, it must not be forgotten that the cost of an unsuccessful row may sometimes be the rower's life. There have been seven recorded deaths of rowers at sea, and a monument in their memory can now be found at Kilkee in Ireland.
In completing the row I will become one of the youngest ever solo ocean rowers. In addition, I intend to reach Antigua in the shortest time possible. The current record for the fastest solo crossing of the Atlantic from East to West is just over 42 days, held by Emmanuel Coindre of France. It would be foolish of me to set out expecting to beat this; if the ocean doesn't want you to beat the record, you'll have absolutely no chance whatsoever. However, I'm going to make sure that I and the boat are as well prepared as possible so that, if things do go my way, I've given myself every chance of getting near the record. To put it into perspective, the record for a team of two is over 40 days, a team of four 36 days and a team of 11 is 35 days! To do it in 42 days will take a massive effort, and lot of luck.
For a far better and more comprehensive overview of the history of Ocean Rowing, go to the very informative Ocean Rowing Society website or, alternatively, do what everyone else does and look at wikipedia.
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