Race Facts
Welcome to the Freedom Rower race facts page, where you’ll find all the essential information about our rowing challenge events. These race facts cover distances, formats, rules, and key timings, helping participants prepare confidently for each Freedom Rower challenge. Whether you are competing for the first time or returning to beat your personal best, our race facts ensure you know exactly what to expect on race day.
Each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes during a race.
Team Fortitude IV achieved the fastest 24 hours ever with 107.45 nautical miles covered.
The fastest row across the Atlantic was a four man team The Four Oarsmen who finished in 29 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes
At its deepest, the Atlantic Ocean is 8.5km / 5.28 miles deep.
The waves that the rowers experience can measure up to 20ft high.
Each rower is expected to use 800 sheets of toilet paper during their crossing.
In the 2016 race, solo rower Daryl Farmer arrived in Antigua after 96 days, rowing without a rudder to steer with for nearly 1200miles/40 days.
The fastest solo across the Atlantic was Mark Slats who completed in 30 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes.
Rowers burn in excess of 5,000 calories per day.
There is no toilet on board – rowers use a bucket!
The average rower loses around 8kg during a crossing.
In the 2018 race, solo rower Kelda Wood (Row 2 Raise) was kept company by a whale for nearly 7 days.
