'Dorabros' Complete World's Toughest Row

Monday, 20 January 2020 13:57

A Jersey athlete is in celebration mode after he and a group of his best friends completed the 'World's Toughest Row'.

Rufus Scholefield, as part of the Dorabros, rowed 3,000 miles from La Gomera to Antigua in 36 days, 10 hours and 32 minutes.

This was the latest in a series of challenges to try and raise £100,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Rufus says it was an unforgettable experience.

"Honestly I loved every second. I'd have happily filled up the food supplies, turned around and headed back if we had to!

View this post on Instagram

Crossed the 500NM TO GO!!!! The boys have steeped up the pace, with the help of a fast tailwind, and have rowed just fractionally under 100NM in the last 24 hours!!!!!! Keep this speed up and they’ll be sipping beers on the beach in Antigua in only 5 days!!! They are also only £10,000 off their £100,000 target for @teenage_cancer !! Support the boys in this final tough push for the finish line with a donation by visiting the JustGiving page (link in bio or on website). Thank you everyone who has so kindly donated so far, reaching the target will make the Dorabros and TCT very happy

A post shared by The Dorabros (@dorabros) on Jan 12, 2020 at 9:07am PST

"I just found being on the ocean so peaceful. I loved all the wildlife we saw and all four of us had a great time."

The team came into the Caribbean on Friday evening in fifth place overall and third place in the fours.

Rufus, his team-mates and family are now celebrating their achievements before leaving at the end of this week.

"It all just went by in a blur. My father raised his huge Jersey flag off the point in Nelson's Dockyard, that was the first thing I saw!

"The next four hours just flew by. You get land sick after you've come off the sea for that long so we're staggering around, I had my first hot meal for 36 days and then started a huge party and the rum started flowing. It was an amazing feeling."

More than £19,000 has been raised so far on their JustGiving page, you can donate here. Overall they have just £10,000 to go to reach their £100,000 target.