Shiplake adventurer completes atlantic row
Ollie Phillips and his team have raised thousands of pounds for charity
An adventurer from Shiplake near Reading has finished a 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean after 39 gruelling days at sea to raise funds for charities battling potentially life-changing conditions.
Former England Rugby 7s captain Ollie Phillips was joined by Tom Clowes, Stuart Kershaw, and Julian Evans on the expedition that began on 14 December. The crew tackled towering waves, high temperatures and sleep deprivation to raise funds for My Name’5 Doddie, Matt Hampson Foundation, Cure Parkinson's and The Clocktower Foundation.
Phillips, a Guinness World Record holder, was also raising funds for Shiplake School, where his children go to school. During the row, he spoke to the school’s assembly via Starlink, and the pupils got to watch the arrival livestream at the end of their school day.
Team Seas Life were the ninth team out of 43 to complete the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic 2025, setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, spending Christmas and New Year at sea, before arriving at Antigua in the West Indies on Wednesday 21 January.
While at sea, they encountered whales, dolphins and flying fish, and incredible skyscapes from colourful sunrises to starry nights. They rowed in constant two-hour shifts with two rowing at a time while the others attempted to get some sleep or eat one of their vacuum-sealed food rations.
Relentless
Speaking as they stepped off the boat, Phillips said: “It’s been a fantastic experience. They say ordinary people can do extraordinary things and this is an extraordinary event. Just a fabulous event, and absolutely relentless, from the moment we left until the moment we arrived.”
“To see everyone here (friends and family) is overwhelming, just absolutely incredible.”
So far, the team have raised over £350,000 for their charities with donations still available to be made at: https://www.seaslife.co.uk/donate