Wellington businessman Colin Hiscock was among a four-crew who completed a record-breaking row across the Arctic Ocean.
They survived treacherous conditions to complete the epic journey from Tromsø in Norway, 550 nautical miles to Svalbard.
The crew were led by Plymouth-based Royal Marine, Matt Mason – skipper of the first team to row from New York to London – and included Colin, along with MOD policeman Matt Inglesby and another Somerset businessman Mark Sealey.
The Ocean Revival Arctic Row, which saw them face 30-foot waves in ice-cold conditions, looks set to collect five world records.
- The crew are the first – and so fastest – four to row the Arctic Ocean.
- At 59, Mark is the oldest crew member to row the Arctic Ocean.
- Matt Ingles is the first person to row the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean in the same year.
- Matt Mason is the first person to row the Arctic, North Atlantic and mid-Atlantic.
During the worst of the storms, the four rowers stayed hidden away in tiny compartments, either end of the boat.
Throughout the 15 days, the crew, who rowed consecutively two hours on and two hours off, saw over 50 whales, dolphins, puffins and even a walrus.
The team raised nearly £3,000 to support young people facing homelessness through the work of YMCA Exeter.
Gareth Sorsby, YMCA Exeter Joint CEO said: “We were delighted that the crew from the Ocean Revival Arctic Row chose YMCA Exeter to be their charity during this amazing challenge.
“It was an absolute privilege to follow the journey of Matt, Mark, Matt and Colin as they battled the world’s coldest row.
“They took on freezing temperatures, icy waters and extreme physical and mental pressures. In challenging themselves to their limits, they needed total reliance on each other, reaching breakthrough moments and ultimately achieving their goals.
Facing challenges every day is the reality for many young people, so we applaud the team all the way.”
The world-class ocean rowing boat includes a life raft, immersion suits, AIS, lifejackets, danbuoys, locator beacons and is designed to withstand adverse weather having been tested in the Indian, North and Mid Atlantic Oceans.
With no support vessels, the crew were entirely self-sufficient.
Ocean Revival Adventures was set up by the Royal Marines to raise awareness for the plastic destroying the world’s oceans.
PHOTOS: The crew are pictured, above, celebrating at Svalbard and, below, on their arrival there.
