Ex-European Cup winner 'so tired fighting' on Atlantic solo row

Former European Cup winner Damian Browne has just over 100 nautical miles to cover after nearly 15 weeks rowing the Atlantic, mostly on his own. The ex-Connacht, Northampton, Brive, Leinster – with whom he won the Heineken Cup in 2012 – and Oyonnax lock is now an extreme adventurer and his latest challenge began nearly four months ago when he rowed out of New York with his colleague Fergus Farrell.

A 5,000km journey across the ocean to their hometown in Galway awaited but Browne was forced to take on the excursion on his own 13 days in after Farrell was evacuated from the boat following a medical emergency that resulted in him returning to New York via a big tanker that passed by en route from Singapore.

That left the 42-year-old Browne – who last year attempted to climb Everest – to continue the journey solo and following multiple social media updates, the Deep Roots podcast host is now not far off the coast of Ireland and primed to reach dry land once a much-needed rest has been had to fuel him for the final part of his onerous journey.

Browne’s latest update came on day 105, explaining why he had dropped parachute anchor and was taking some rest and relaxation while about 109 nautical miles from his destination. His post read: “Although I’m so close to Galway and setting foot on solid ground for the first time in nearly 15 weeks, my mental and emotional fatigue welcomes the enforced rest.

“When I first learned another stint on para anchor was going to be needed my psychological tiredness became very evident. I’m so tired fighting a fight I can only ‘not lose’ that the thought of having to reach deep down inside myself once again and find the will to survive another onslaught from the Atlantic was too much.

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“I felt so drained in this department and had dropped my barriers thinking the worst was behind me. The bright side of time on para-anchor is I can sleep. I suppose that is another indicator of my deep fatigue – that I can actually sleep on para-anchor with the boat hopping about every second and waves reverberating off the cabin’s exterior, making foreboding noises unequal to their menace.

“Last night I woke four times when my head/face was slid or thrown into the side of the cabin. Thankfully with little velocity as the wind speeds aren’t too fast. So day one on para anchor passes with little issue. I surprisingly only lose 0.9nm and rest and recuperate throughout the day as sleep comes to rejuvenate my battle-weary mind for the final leg.”