THE Atlantic Buoys — Neil Blackeby and Hamish Stewart — crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, known as the world’s toughest row last week.

The Atlantic Buoys finished 20th overall in the race, which started in San Sebastian in the Canary Islands and ended in?Antigua in the West Indies.

They took on the arduous challenge to raise money for the Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). It took the team 65 days and 15 hours.

Neil and Hamish both live in North Cornwall. Neil worked as a firefighter for 23 years in Windsor, but returned to the South West where his family has lived for generations.

His desire to row across the Atlantic Ocean goes back 40 years to Earl’s Court Boat Show where, at the age of 10, he met and spent the day with Tom (Moby) Maclean, one of the first ocean rowers, and later befriended Peter Bird, another rower who was tragically lost at sea during an attempt to row the North Pacific.

Neil is a keen sailor and has cruised, raced and delivered yachts all over the UK, Ireland and France. He will be taking part in the ‘Round the Island’ race, Cowes Week and the Impala Nationals at Weymouth this summer.

He has been a member of Port Isaac Rowing Club for 12 years where he rows and races Cornish pilot gigs and along with Hamish, has taken part in many county and world championships.

Hamish has been an enthusiastic member of Port Isaac Rowing Club for 15 years and has also raced in many Newquay County Championships and World Championships on the Isles of Scilly.

He has cruised and raced sailboats with Neil and enjoys most water sports. Hamish first became interested in taking part in an ocean row after discussing the opportunity with Neil several years ago at the Newquay Championships.

As seasoned rowers they were inspired to take part in the race to test the limit of human endurance on the waves.

Neil said on finishing the race last week: “To get here for me is a lifetime dream. I’ve been wanting to do this since I was eight, when I met someone who’d rowed it.

“All the way across it’s been absolutely hard, there were times when we didn’t think we were going to make it and it was only this morning when I saw Antigua on the horizon that I realised I’ve achieved this lifelong goal and it’s the most amazing feeling in the world.”

The teams row in shifts of two hours on and two hours off.

The conditions are tough — teams battle tropical storms, 40ft waves, sleep deprivation, seasickness and excruciating body sores.

As well as all these harsh conditions, the 2015/16 fleet also faced the first tropical storm to form in January since 1978 and the fourth in recorded history.

Mary Murfin, community fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West said: “On behalf of all of the children and families that Children’s Hospice South West supports we would like to send a huge congratulations to Neil and Hamish on their fantastic achievement and for carrying the name of CHSW across the vast Atlantic.

“We are so grateful to the Atlantic Buoys for choosing the support CHSW and we hope that everyone will make a donation however big or small to help celebrate their achievement and homecoming.”

Talisker brand manager Sarah Fleming said: “We’re delighted for Atlantic Buoys and their success in this formidable race.

“This year’s Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge has certainly lived up to its name of the world’s toughest row. Like the rowers in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge the TALISKER® distillery is battered by the elements: being the only distillery on the windswept coast of the Isle of Skye.”