Through sleep deprivation, brutal conditions, sea sickness for some and relentless two-hour shifts, the Ocean Mavericks not only managed a third-place finish but, more importantly, raised over R2 million for the Pondoland Conservation Trust, funding a community centre and connectivity hub to bring essential services to a remote part of the Wild Coast.

Now safely back home, we spoke to JP about the challenge.

How did the whole idea begin?

Rowing the Atlantic has been a lifelong dream of mine. The seed was planted after Angelo and I completed the JoBerg2C together in May 2022 – one of those endurance events that reminds you just how much more you’ re capable of. Somewhere between the kilometres and the conversations, the idea of doing something bigger started brewing …

Toughest moment out there?

In the beginning, I really struggled with the lack of sleep … The hallucinations were very real at times. Eventually our bodies adapted, but it took a while. Later in the race, the heat became my biggest challenge. The cabins were unbearably hot – no shade, no escape, just heat! It was relentless.

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What did daily life onboard look like?

Out there, routine became everything … The boat never stopped moving unless we were cleaning the hull … Each day had its rhythm … At sunrise, we would clean the solar panels, the off-watch crew would help dig out food rations and help prep food for the day. Around midday, we’ d turn on the water maker to maximise the power from the panels … Sunset became something we genuinely looked forward to – our two-hour“ Zentium Sunset Session”. Good music, a slight mood lift, and a mental reset before heading into the night shifts. Those moments helped break the monotony and anchor the day … The discipline of that structure became comforting. In the middle of the Atlantic, with nothing familiar around you, routine became stability. It gave us control in an environment where so much was unpredictable.

What will the R2 million raised achieve?

Pondoland is one of the last truly wild stretches of coastline in South Africa. It’ s also home to communities who rely on that land and sea every day. The funds raised will go directly toward tangible projects: building and supporting community centres, food gardens, access to clean water, youth development and environmental initiatives. Our hope is that this row doesn’ t just raise money, but longterm awareness...

Any advice for future participants?

Planning is everything. Test absolutely every aspect of your boat, gear, clothing and food before you get out there. You want to know how your body reacts to it all … Train together as much as you can. The physical side you can prepare for but the team dynamic is everything. Have the hard conversations before you leave shore. Align your goals and your reasons for doing the row. If your“ why” isn’ t aligned, the cracks will show when it gets tough.

Tell us a bit about the finish?

Arriving in Antigua was incredible! To have all our family and friends there was superemotional. To have all the boats sounding their horns and everyone generally so excited and happy for the team to arrive back safe, and the podium was just a cherry on top for us. It was never in our plan to get a third place!

You can still contribute to the Pondoland Conservation Trust.

Contribute to Pondoland Conservation Trust

https:// www. givengain. com / project / ocean-raisingfunds-for-the-pondoland-conservation-trust-109002

Photo credit: World’ s Toughest Row