Yorkshire Rows Reach Antigua

After almost 68 days across 3,000 miles, a crew of four Yorkshire women have become the oldest all-female crew to cross the Atlantic.

The Yorkshire Rows – Niki Doeg, Helen Butters, both 45, Frances Davies, 47, and Janette Benaddi, 51 – began their journey at La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 20 December and arrived in Antigua on Thursday after 67 days, five hours and two minutes.

The crew, who all have children in the same school, travelled through a hurricane and had to row naked at one point after running out of clothes. They were raising money for a cancer care centre to be built in Leeds.

“It feels like a dream to have arrived,” Benaddi, the skipper, told BBC. “This race truly deserves to be called the world’s toughest row – it felt like we were battling against the ocean and we are so proud to have achieved something that we originally thought was way beyond our capabilities.

“Less than 100 women have rowed an ocean and now we as four mums have added to that and achieved a world record. What an incredible feeling to share as four best friends.”

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