Spirit of Hospitality team complete world’s toughest row finishing first in the pairs

Chris Mitchell and Robbie Laidlaw have completed their row across the Atlantic, arriving at Antigua after 38 days at sea.

The Spirit of Hospitality team finished first in the pairs and before any trio within the fleet.

Genuine dining chief executive Mitchell and business development director Laidlaw took on what is described as the world’s toughest row to raise funds for Hospitality Action. Not only have the pair completed the 3,000-mile row ahead of the field, they have raised significant funds for the charity.

They arrived in Antigua after 38 days, 15 hours and three minutes at sea to a hero’s welcome from their family and friends.

Back on dry land, Laidlaw said: “I couldn’t actually put into words how crazy it was. It was absolutely mental.”

Mitchell and Laidlaw had charted their progress on social media, recording the pressures of rowing a small boat such a distance, along with the pleasures of sunsets alone at sea and nights under the stars.

In one post Mitchell called shore to report an "interesting 24 hours" after the Spirit of Hospitality boat capsized.

In a message shared on the Spirit of Hospitality team's Instagram page he said: "We had an interesting 24 hours… we capsized. We were flying along, probably going too fast to keep our advantage and a wave blew up and nicked us on the side and pushed the boat up. Robbie ended up in the water and I ended up upside down in my cabin, Maria [the boat] was great – she flipped back over and we were all back on."

That setback was soon overcome and the pair rowed into Antigua before any other duo in the race.

Support Mitchell and Laidlaw's heroic efforts here.