Fastest crossing of the Arctic Ocean by rowing

What to remember

Five rowers set out aboard Polar Row I in 2017: Fiann Paul, Tor Wigum, Tathagata Roy, Carlo Facchino and Jeff Willis. Leaving Tromsø in Norway, they reached Hornsund in Svalbard in 7 days and 7 hours, the fastest Arctic Ocean crossing by rowing. The crew then carried on to Longyearbyen, an extra 36 hours that is not part of the recorded time.

In ocean rowing, crews cross whole oceans pulling on oars alone. Some boats can carry large crews, but the most common designs are built for singles, doubles and fours, which makes a crew of five an unusual setup.

The Ocean Rowing Society International, the reference body for the sport, splits its history into two eras. Rows completed up to and including 1981, with very limited modern technology, count as historic; every row since then, Polar Row I included, is a modern-day row.