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Rowers celebrate winning Atlantic race

Charlotte Benton
BBC News, West Midlands
Lee Blakeman
BBC Radio Stoke
World's Toughest Row Four women all dressed in blue rowing outfits, standing on the side of a boat and holding a banner that reads "World's Toughest Row". The sky is pitch black in the background. The four women are all smiling. World's Toughest Row
Deborah Cope and her friends completed the crossing in 44 days to win the women's race

A woman has described the "euphoria" of rowing almost 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, winning the race alongside her three team-mates.

The Ocean Empower Crew were the first female four to reach Antigua earlier this month, after 44 days at sea battling huge waves and awful conditions.

Deborah Cope, Kerry Swanton, Dawn Smith and Fiona Steel had set off from the Canary Islands in December and beat teams from the Navy and Army, among others.

Ms Cope, who is from Crewe, said she had decided to take part in memory of family friend Jordan Gatley, who was killed fighting in Ukraine two years ago.

She said her son, a fellow soldier, had "lost his best friend in Ukraine" and she wanted to help people who were struggling with their mental health.

The crew rowed and slept in three-hour rotations, raising more than £60,000 for the veterans charity Phoenix Heroes.

"You'd open the cabin door and then for the next three hours you would be hit by six-foot waves, knocking you down on the deck and it was relentless, I can't believe I did 44 days of it," Ms Cope said.

World's Toughest Row A rowing boat with three women using the oars and another woman at the back of the boat who is the cox. The waves are crashing against the side of the boat and the sky is a pale blue in the background. World's Toughest Row
The team battled the harsh conditions of the Atlantic and raised more than £60,000 for charity

Despite how challenging the row became, the team did not doubt that they would reach the end.

"You know you've got to keep going, nobody is going to come and get you, there's no out plan," Ms Cope said.

She added that it was "overwhelming" to approach land again.

"It was a feeling of euphoria when I could see Antigua, but also a sensory overload because you haven't heard any noise or seen bright lights for such a long time."

World's Toughest Row Four women holding a silver trophy that reads "World's Toughest Row". They are standing in front of the sea and are all wearing the same navy top. They are all smiling into the camera. World's Toughest Row
The four women were the fastest female boat to make the crossing

The final few strokes into Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua, were emotional.

"It was the best feeling ever to think I was going to see my son and my partner and eat nice food, but when I got off the boat I couldn't walk because you have sea legs.

"There was music blaring, people cheering, super yachts beeping their horns and a cafe in the bay was playing We are the Champions", she added.

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