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After extreme weather, technical glitches, broken oars and flying fish attacks... A Jersey team has completed a 3,000-mile race known as the ‘world’s toughest row’ across the Atlantic Ocean, describing it as a "life-changing" experience.
At 03:57 Jersey time today, Steve Hayes and Peter Wright crossed the finish line in Antigua on their boat DragonFish, having completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 54 days 16 hours and 45 minutes.
It's the latest in a long list of extreme challenges completed by Steve, general manager at the Somerville Hotel, and Peter, finance director at Prosperity 24/7 - when they met 10 years ago, Steve had just swum the Channel and Peter had just run the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara.
However, the endurance sport enthusiasts said that previous challenges "don't compare" to what they had gone through in aid of Durrell and Macmillan Jersey.
Video: Team DragonFish - Steve Hayes and Peter Wright - completing the race after 54 days at sea.
"...This is a different magnitude entirely. It's a different event, it's amazing, life-changing I'm sure. Brilliant," Steve said, as he was interviewed upon arrival this morning.
"For me it's the only thing I've ever done where you're not in control - the ocean's in control," Peter added.
"We just have to adapt and so much went wrong out there for us and we just had to rely on each other to get it done, and that's exactly what we did."
During their nearly eight weeks at sea, the pair faced extreme weather and problems with their navigation equipment, steering system and water maker - and were even attacked by flying fish.
Steve joked that always having "something to fix, something to repair" kept them "busy".
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But out of the adversity came many positives.
Within days of setting off from the Canary Islands on 12 December, the pair were treated to the sights of whales and dolphins, among other wildlife.
They also had a memorable radio chat with the team on a passing cruise ship, which altered its course to come alongside the pair and led to a flurry of donations from passengers to their chosen charities.
More importantly, "I think it's certainly made us closer as friends," Steve reflected. "It's really inspired teamwork and problem-solving, overcoming all the challenges that we've had, so that's certainly helped us."
"We said to each other a lot, 'Control the controllables.' There's so much out there that we couldn't control, but the one thing we could control was us and decision-making and we stuck together and anything that came up we dealt with it, and we were proud of that."
As they finished at the Antiguan port of English Harbour three minutes before midnight (local time), the duo were met by family members including Mr Hayes' wife Corina and the couple's two-year-old daughter Sofia, along with Mr Wright's father Jack.
They were also cheered on from afar by a large Jersey contingent tuned in to the live-stream broadcast.
Those watching from Jersey included Mr Wright's wife Rachel and children Josh and Leila, and Mr Hayes' older children Evan and Isla.
Asked what adventures they may consider in future, Peter joked: "I'm taking up lawn bowls, so that's the big adventure for me!"
"I'm not saying anything in front of my wife!" Steve said.
The pair set off on the challenge with the ambition of raising as much money as possible for Durrell and Macmillan Jersey.
While they have now completed the crossing, donations can still be made to team DragonFish.
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Pictured top: Team DragonFish completing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. (Atlantic Campaigns)
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