‘We’ve worked hard to reel in people ahead’

FORMER England rugby sevens skipper Ollie Phillips has broken the back of his 3,000-mile Atlantic row.

The father of three from Shiplake told the Henley Standard in a video call on Tuesday that he and his crew were about 1,100 miles off their destination of Antigua.

He is taking part in the World’s Toughest Row with crewmates, Tom Clowes, Julian Evans and Stuart Kershaw and has been at sea for nearly a month.

The “Seas Life” team is hoping to reach English Harbour between January 22 and 24.

Mr Phillips, who lives with wife Lucy and children Lillie-Mae, Nia and Alfie, said that the last day or so had been challenging. He said: “It has been quite a frustrating last 24 hours in which we’ve worked super, super hard to reel in the people ahead of us. We were one mile away from a boat and then, for some reason, we ran mega slow for a day and we lost

In the past few days, the group have had to contend with scorching temperatures, a broken rowing seat, which was fixed by Mr Clowes, and were passed by a luxury cruiser yacht.

Mr Phillips said that the main word used aboard the boat to describe the challenge was “relentless”.

He said: “It’s hard but it’s physically easier than I thought it was going to be. Once you sit in the seat and you start rowing, you get into a rhythm and it’s quite straightforward. I think the thing that surprised me the most is the mental and emotional side of it all.”

Despite the hardships, Mr Phillips said the highlights had included a pod of dolphins that came and swam around the boat and the “absolutely phenomenal” view of the Milky Way at night.

He said: “In general, the consensus on the boat is that night-time is our favourite because one, it’s so much cooler and, two, the skyline at night is just breathtaking sometimes.”

Mr Phillips, who left the UK ahead of the start of the challenge on November 30, said that as well as a shower, he was looking forward to seeing his family again. He said: “I don’t think I’m going to see my kids until January 24, so it has been nearly two months.

“Obviously I missed Christmas and New Year but I missed all the other bits that come with that, like their Nativity plays and I’m missing my daughter’s birthday on Thursday.”

Mr Phillips said he remains motivated by the causes he was raising money for, which include My Name’5 Doddie, the Clocktower Foundation and Shiplake Primary School, which his children attend.

He said: “The donations that have been made and the community that's been built, honestly, that’s overwhelming.”

You can follow their journey via their Instagram account at: teamseaslife