December 12 - December 25, 2019
This expedition is for anyone who has ever been told their dreams are impossible.
In December 2019, Colin and the team successfully rowed a boat from Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula across Drake Passage.
The crew of six men from four nations and three continents rowed continuously, 24 hours a day in a perpetual 90-minute rotation for 12 days straight.
From left to right: Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, John Petersen, Andrew Towne, Cameron Bellamy, Colin O'Brady, Fiann Paul
Outfitted with the newest satellite tech, the entire expedition was featured live. Real-time storytelling was shared across Discovery's platforms and Colin's social channels.
“Drake Passage is the most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe.”
Live Tracking
The expedition was tracked in real time from December 9 - 25, 2019.
The History
Drake Passage has been crossed before by heavy shipping vessels, cruise ships, and sailors, and as featured in the 1989 issue of National Geographic, American Ned Gilette and a three person crew completed a hybrid crossing from Cape Horn to the outer islands of the Antarctic peninsula by rowing with the aid of a sailing mast in 1988.
The Stakes
The crew battled across the coldest, roughest 600 mile stretch of open ocean on Earth. Crossing Drake Passage, a notoriously ferocious stretch waterway known to rattle even the toughest ocean experts tested the crew’s limits. The crew endured the icy waters and freezing temperatures, high winds, and up to 40ft-high ocean swells, all while operating on limited sleep never sleeping for more than 90 minutes at a time. Having never rowed a boat before, but with his expedition and athletic experiences in hand, Colin pursued a mind over matter mission and embraced courage, grit, teamwork, and stamina to complete the voyage to the frozen continent.
Featured Press
Beyond The Row
In continuation of Colin’s mission to inspire kids and communities to dream big, set goals and live active, healthy lives - his non-profit, Beyond 7/2, partnered with Dr. Drizzle to bring The Impossible Row Jr. Challenge to life.
Over 600,000 school kids enrolled in the High Adventure STEM curriculum in conjunction with the rowing expedition.
Partners
