'I knew I would win' - Irishman triumphs in World's Toughest Row
Nall Moonan
An Irishman is on cloud nine after winning the solo class in the World’s Toughest Row – a 4,800km trek across the Atlantic.
Galway’s Daragh MacLoughlin, 42, clutched a collar belonging to his beloved late dog Jasper – after whom his boat is named – on his final push into Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua early on Friday morning.
He left La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 14th, battling treacherous seas in his bid to raise €10,000 for epidermolysis bullosa (EB) charity Debra and Irish Dogs for the Disabled.
To chants of Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé, the emotional businessman was met on dry land at 8.22am (Irish time) by his wife Suzanne and their daughters Maeve and Saoirse – and celebrated with a cold can of Coca-Cola.
“It was everything I could have wanted and more,” he said moments after stepping off The Jasper, his home for 39 days, 20 hours, and 16 minutes.
“I went in thinking ‘this is going to be a race, a race only’, that’s what I trained for.
“But after four days, the ocean told me it’s about a lot more than that.
“It opened a lot of doors I didn’t think I’d ever open.
“If you’re willing, the ocean will bring you places, and it will show you things that you didn’t think were possible about yourself.
“I’m really, really happy.”
Daragh, from Clarinbridge, told of his frustration when slack winds slowed his progress on the mammoth crossing.
But he said he predicted he would win the race, given the punishing training regime he adopted.
“I’m a big believer in visualising things. I knew I was going to win this race.
“When I arrived in, my family were waiting for me, it’s fantastic, my two girls needed that father figure back, so it is so nice to be there for them again.”
The solo oarsman managed to beat several three and four-person teams taking part in the race and came 14th in the overall rankings, out of 43 teams.
Supporters have helped him smash his charity target – now standing at €17,000 - and donations remain open here.
“Daragh has delivered an exceptional performance to win the solo class of the World’s Toughest Row,” said Event Manager Nikki Holter.
“His detailed preparation, focus, resilience, consistency, and unwavering resolve in the face of immense challenge represent the very spirit of this race and have given him a very well-deserved achievement and win.”
