It’s called the toughest annual ocean row in the world, a 5000-kilometre race across the Atlantic from the Spanish Canary Islands to the finish line at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua and Barbuda, against 35 other purpose-built vessels (some with just a solo rower aboard).

The only Australian team – comprising EY consultants Sam Horsley and Louis Hugh-Jones along with builder James Samuels and medical school graduate Rob Wells – are hoping to break the Australian record of 34 days, 10 hours and 46 minutes.