After 40 days, 6 hours and 35 minutes, rowing team ‘Oardacity’ have completed their monumental journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Billed as the world’s toughest row, the group took on extreme conditions in the 3,000 mile-long Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge on December 12 – a journey from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean.

Harry Hearn, Alex Soskin, Ed Batchelor, and Tom Phillips landed on the sandy shores of Antigua on Jan 20, to the cheers of friends and family.

The four close friends raised over £100k for mental health charities MIND and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation.

Mr Hearn, 35, the Battersea-based skipper of Oardacity, spoke to the Wandsworth Times about the “severe” and “nerve wracking” conditions they encountered.

Oardacity rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Oardacity rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

“The challenge was a lot tougher mentally than we thought because the conditions were so bad. You can’t train for what the Atlantic will throw at you.

“We had stunning days that were completely calm – with not even a ripple - and you see dolphins and tuna swimming. But rowing in that is exhausting, it’s like moving through treacle.”

“There were also unexpected localised storms, with 40-50 ft waves from every direction breaking over the boat. At night time you would hear unbelievable sounds of earth-shattering storms.”

But Mr Hearn insists the beauty of the experience was unrivalled.

“The stars at night were out of this world, like nothing anyone would see on dry land. And there were hundreds, if not thousands, of shooting stars.”

“We felt incredibly grateful, it was life changing in every way possible. There were days it was complete and utter torture and others which were quite wonderful.”

The 35-year-old thanked the support from the public for spurring Oardacity along.

“One of the most special things was the feedback and messages we received from family, friends, the media and total strangers.

It encouraged other people to be more open and transparent about their mental health and could hopefully be a platform to drive change.”

Oardacity rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Oardacity rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Back in Battersea Mr Hearn is adapting to ‘normal life’ though still misses the pull of the Atlantic.

“The mental health aspect has been very tough. Coming back to London was overwhelming, like a sensory overload, full of noise and people.”

After being cooped into a 28-ft boat for over a month the team’s leg muscles took a toll, taking a few days to find their feet again on dry land.

Despite this, Mr Hearn admitted to feeling “expedition blues” which is “like holiday blues times a thousand.”

But a new challenge is in store for the skipper, who has returned home to his pregnant partner, and a bump that has grown considerably since he left.

Mr Hearn has sights set on the North Pole next, though hints this one may be a family adventure.