Outback Jacks are proud supporters and sponsors of a World Record attempt which will see two Galway natives will row unsupported between New York and Galway next month.
Outback Jacks are sponsoring the crew with Helly Hansen offshore Ocean going sailing gear and equipment for this world record attempt.
The world record has been in situ for over 120 years. The current world record is 55 days and 13 hours. In total, only 18 of the previous attempts managed to complete the crossing. No Irish crew has ever managed this feat. Lifelong Galway friends Damian Browne and Fergus Farrell will complete an unsupported row across the Atlantic from New York City to Galway.
The start of this adventure will be signalled at The Statue of Liberty in New York City, the finish line will culminate in Galway City. A large home coming is expected to welcome home these two extraordinary rowers back to their native land.
The custom-made boat is a 6.2m ocean rowing boat. The route is 5000 kms across one of the most ferocious and unforgiving stretches of water on the planet in the Atlantic Ocean. The extreme endurance and mental strength required to complete such challenges are immense. Some of the challenges include the unrelenting cold, 10 meter high waves, ferocious storms and it is estimated it will take 1.5 million oar strokes to arrive in Galway.
The crew is made up of two former rugby players, Damian Browne and Fergus Farrell. Fergus is a former rugby player, a self-employed business man and recent recoveree from a traumatic spinal injury where he was told he had just a five per cent chance of ever walking again. In 2019, he he miraculously completed a 206km walk from the site of the injury at his yard in Athenry, Galway to the NRH in Dún Laoghaire. Fergus puts his incredible recovery down to his “stubbornness, thickness and determination”. In the completing his “trek” he raised €70,000 for the NRH.
Damian is also a former rugby player and adventurer. Damian has previously rowed across the Atlantic competing in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge in a time of 63 days 6 hours and 25 minutes. Damian has also summited five of the highest peaks on the planet and completed the Marathon des Sables in six days, 257 km, also known as ‘The Toughest Footrace on Earth’ in the Sahara desert.
Outback Jacks will be sharing regular updates on their social media channels, if you want to read more about this amazing adventure go to www.projectempower.ie”
