Clare O’Reilly, a rower from Wembury, Devon, is navigating both turbulent Atlantic waves and profound personal grief as she competes in the World’s Toughest Row. Alongside teammates Rosie Tong and Mel Jarman, O’Reilly embarked on her journey on December 14, 2023. Having already covered over 1,800 miles of the 3,600-mile race, she faces extraordinary challenges both on and off the water.
The emotional burden of the journey intensified for O’Reilly just before the race began. Her father passed away mere hours before she departed from La Gomera, Spain, en route to Antigua. In an interview with BBC News, she expressed the depth of her grief, stating, “Sometimes it feels like the sea echoes how you feel when you’re grieving. You can’t move through the sea quickly. You move at the pace she decides, and that feels very much like grief.” Despite her loss, O’Reilly finds solace in the belief that her father is with her, sharing in her experiences on the ocean.
As the team, known as Row with the Flow, continues its journey, they have achieved impressive standings in the race. O’Reilly proudly noted, “We’re 17th out of 44 boats and second in the women’s class.” The physical exertion required is immense, with O’Reilly likening their current location to being “closer to the humans on the International Space Station than anyone on land.”
Facing daunting waves reaching heights of five to six meters, O’Reilly admits to her fears of deep water and turbulent conditions. “They were huge, absolutely ginormous,” she recalled of the early days. The relentless nature of life aboard the boat presents its own set of challenges. O’Reilly humorously described the routine as a series of chores, stating, “Everything is a flipping chore. Going to the toilet, boiling noodles, moving up and down the boat, it’s all a chore. But we’re enjoying it. We’re incredibly fortunate to be out here.”
O’Reilly is not alone in this monumental effort; fellow competitor Jess Smiles and her partner Beth Murphy are also taking part in the race. Their participation adds to the spirit of camaraderie among the rowers, each facing their own trials against the formidable Atlantic.
As the race progresses, O’Reilly and her team embody resilience and determination, pushing through their physical and emotional challenges while navigating the vast ocean. Their journey serves as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and thrive, even in the face of great adversity.
