The Brightsides Atlantic Row

As you probably remember, the team were rowing in pairs, doing 2 hour shifts, 24 hours per day. ⌚ • This meant that when they finished their shift they would need to clamber into the cabin, get their wet weather gear off, cook, eat, do any navigation work, send any imagery back for social media, perhaps convert some sea water into drinking water, perhaps fix anything that needed fixing, and THEN get some sleep. 😴 • This meant that under their normal shift pattern, they never got more than 90 minutes sleep at a time. 🤯 • But, did you know, that when the going got tough, they needed to row three up? 🚣♂️🚣♂️🚣♀️ • In this image the crew were rowing against a strong current. The ocean looks relatively calm but the water was being pushed in the opposite direction to Antigua. This meant three of the team had to row at the same time, and that meant that they got even LESS sleep! 🥴 • It's absolutely wild that they were able to continue in this manner at all, but doing it with a grin on their faces makes it all the more amazing! 😁 • One of the reasons for sharing some of these insights is to remind everyone that the team are still raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you enjoyed following the team and didn't have a chance to donate - now is the time! Make your donation at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

Aboard their rowing boat the team had millions of calories worth of specially formulated dehydrated meals that would give them maximum calories. But for Rod, it was a simple pack of Tesco noodles that did it for him. 🍜 • A meal he referred to as 'pure heaven'. 😇 • And whilst we now need to go and recalibrate what heaven looks like - it does highlight an important point; food aboard the boat is really important from an energy perspective - but it's also really important from a psychological perspective. 🧠 • Sure, Tesco noodles are not as calorie dense as the other meals aboard - but it was a little bowl of happiness for Rod, and as he sat there, with his heavenly meal, watching the sun go down, with this three friends...that boat was a very happy place to be in deed. ☺️ • One of the reasons for sharing some of these insights is to remind everyone that the team are still raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you enjoyed following the team and didn't have a chance to donate - now is the time! Make your donation at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

10 minutes in to what was perhaps the longest, hardest journey of their lives, the team were absolutely powering away on the oars at 4.3 knots! 🏎️ • They didn't see 4.3 knots very often on their row - they also didn't see such good weather very often! 😬 • In the video we can see Fuerteventura in the background. The team headed down the east coast of this island, unlike the year before when the teams all headed down the west side of the island. This is a decision that is largely made for the teams by the weather. 🌬️ • One thing that didn't change throughout the race, was the team being absolutely on fire(!) - they were incredible from start to finish, in what was one of the toughest Atlantic seasons, weather-wise, in recent memory. 🌊 • One of the reasons for sharing some of these insights is to remind everyone that the team are still raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you enjoyed following the team and didn't have a chance to donat - now is the time! Make your donation at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30  • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

To many, this is just a picture of the race organisers in a motorboat - but to The Brightsides, this was the last proper human interaction the team would have for 52 days! 🤯🤯🤯 • From this point onwards the team were on their own. 😲 • For the most part, Rod rowed with Anna, Guy rowed with Pez, and they rowed for 24 hours a day in 2 hours on, 2 hours off shifts. However their boat did allow them to row 3 up at times when required. 💪 • The next time the team would see the race organisers was when they went out to meet them in another boat from Falmouth Harbour in Antigua - and what a day that was! 🥰 • One of the reasons for sharing some of these insights is to remind everyone that the team are still raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you enjoyed following the team and didn't have a chance to donate - now is the time! Make your donation at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30  • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

The Brightsides - behind the scenes! 😲 • Now that skipper Rod has had a chance to return to the UK, and to relax and recover...he's been looking through his phone and his GoPro and finding loads of great content that he was unable to send whilst he was at sea. Over the next couple of weeks we're going to share some of that footage, and hopefully help to raise some more funds for the teams fantastic charities. 💪 • First up - these amazing New Years Eve pics! 🙌 • Whilst the Atlantic Dash event didn't actually leave Lanzarote until the 3rd January, everyone had to be on the island well before Christmas to make their final preparations. 😯 • And whilst some of the rowers went home for Christmas most of them, including the Atlantic Rocks team, were back in time for an EPIC New Years Eve do!! Even The Brightsides sponsor Tom Bromwich was there for the party! 🥳🎉🎊 • Stand by for more brilliant content over the next couple of weeks! • One of the reasons for sharing some of these insights is to remind everyone that the team are still raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you enjoyed following the team and didn't have a chance to donat - now is the time! Make your donation at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30  • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

Throughout the row we enjoyed regular video updates from the skipper, Mr. Rod Adlington. And so it is fitting that our final update is another of these! 🗣️ • But having been on land for a few days, it's a very different update. 🏝️ • Seeing Rod back on land, being able to talk about the wonderful reception, and communicating with us without being tossed about the cabin, is a joy to behold. 🥰 • Rod says everything that needs to be said, but once again; Thank you, thank you, thank you. Everyone that has been involved in all manner of ways; the sponsors, the people that donated, the people that liked and shared the social media posts, the people that offered time, or energy, or just gave a kind word when it was needed. Thank you ALL so much - and as Rod mentions, PLEASE come along to the celebration in April to celebrate what has been an absolutely incredible journey. 🙏 • Details of the celebration coming soon! 🔜 • It is still not too late to donate! The team are raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you've enjoyed following this crossing, PLEASE donate today at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

More than 52 days on the Atlantic ocean will change a person - and that is perhaps no more evident than in these 'before and after' photos! 🤯 • Despite eating between 4000-6000 kcal per day EACH, (which is a lot for any land mammal!), the team have lost huge amounts of weight! 😲 • Is the Atlantic Dash the world's best diet?! Eat as much as you possibly can and lose more than you've ever lost, in just 52 days! They should launch a book in time for Christmas. 📖 • Things are starting to settle now, the team are getting their land legs back and enjoying being around other people, as well as the luxuries that land offers. Like taps, a bed, and a toilet with a door! 🚻 • It's not too late to donate! The team are raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you've enjoyed following this crossing, PLEASE donate today at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 • Photos by Atlantic Dash • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

Very sadly, at around the same time as the team made land on Sunday, a solo rower called Michael Holt was found deceased in his cabin 700 miles into his crossing. • Contact had been lost with Michael last week and after a long search and rescue effort, Michael was located and towed to Cape Verde. • Whilst we don't know how he died, he was a type 1 diabetic, and it is thought that this may have been a factor. • All the Brightsides team would like to extend their condolences to Michael's family and hope that he is repatriated quickly so that he can be laid to rest. • Rest In Peace Michael.

This is what we wanted to see!!! 🍉🍇🍔🥗🍤🍰 • After making land and being greeted by their loved ones, and the HUNDREDS of people that came to welcome them in, our four rowing heroes FINALLY got to sit on a proper seat, that doesn't try and throw them off with every wave, with a comfy cushion, and they tucked into some INCREDIBLE food from the amazing Sheer Rocks team! 🥰 • The food they got to enjoy really was AMAZING! It would be amazing food for anyone...but for four people that have been at sea for so long, the feeling they got from having this meal probably made this the best meal of their entire lives! 🙌 • Oh...and the cocktails...WHAT a difference this is from filtered sea water!! 😂🌊🍹 • Remember! The team are raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you've enjoyed following this crossing, please donate today at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 Photos by Atlantic Dash and Lily Adlington • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow

WHAT A DAY IT HAS BEEN!!! 💖 • Rod, Guy, Pez and Anna have finally achieved the dream they all worked so hard towards. They have successfully rowed across the Atlantic ocean. 🌊🚣 • The whole of Jolly Harbour was an emotional mess, and everyone at home watching the live stream wasn't far behind! 🥹 • Watching these heroes step onto land for the first time, and to the community welcome that they received - it was just epic. 🙌 • Congratulations you four - you have inspired everyone that followed you - it's time to do some of the most hardcore relaxing you have ever done! 🍔🚿🥳🎉💃🛌 • Photos by Atlantic Dash • Remember! The team are raising money for Get A-Head Charitable Trust and Meningitis Now - if you've enjoyed following this crossing, PLEASE donate today at https://lnkd.in/ewFcK9Vg or use the text messaging service: TEXT ROW1 to 70191 to DONATE £10 TEXT ROW3 to 70191 to DONATE £30 • Lodders Solicitors LLP Bromwich Hardy • #thebrightsides #brightsides #oceanrowing #rannoch #atlanticocean #atlanticrow #oceanrow #oceanlife #rowing #rowinglife #atlanticdash #getahead #meningitisnow