Sean Geiser joins an elite few that have completed the world’s toughest row, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge; he rowed with teammate Darryl Thole.
Global (06 February 2023) – South African Sean Geiser and British Darryl Thole, rowed 3000 miles (4800 kilometres) across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera, Canary Islands to English Harbour, Antigua. They completed the 22/23 challenge in 54 days. The pair took it in turns, rowing every two hours for 24 hours straight, every day!
Sean first heard about the challenge while in Antigua; fellow South African Grant Blakeway had arrived on the island after completing the Talisker Whisksy Atlantic Challenge in 20/21. Grant had done the challenge as a solo rower and used his event to raise awareness for Plastic Pollution.
Sean was so inspired by Grant’s accomplishment, he bought Grant’s boat and started training to take on the challenge himself. The boat was built in Ukriane before making its way to Scotland where Grant had to go collect it as the Pandemic had meant he couldn’t get it to South Africa.
The challenge is one of the premier events on the global ocean-rowing calendar and it is sponsored by Talisker Single Malt Whisky and organised by Atlantic Campaigns. The race involves a 3000-mile (approximately 4800km) unassisted row from the Canary Islands to Antigua and Barbuda. Race teams compete solo or in groups of up to five people, and carry everything they need on their boats.
Sean teamed up with Darryl Thole and the pair used the challenge to raise funds for children with cancer. It is rather fitting, that they managed to finish their row on the 4th of February, World Cancer Day. They raised funds in support of Children with Cancer UK, Kids Cancer Foundation and Cancer Society of The Bahamas. Sean and Darryl raised a total of €18,000.
One of the unique design aspects they added to the boat, was handprints of children fighting cancer. These little hands served as a daily reminder for both Sean and Darryl.
You can see the moment they finished the challenge below, it was an emotional one that left us feeling quite tearful.
by 