2012 Crossing · 2026-10-19

The ocean calls you back: Bryan’s 2012 crossing

In 2012, Bryan Fuller crossed the Atlantic aboard Titan, under captain Simon Chalk. Eight people took turns rowing from Gran Canaria to Barbados, finishing in 34 days, 16 hours, and 39 minutes.

Bryan remembers enormous rolling seas early in the voyage, followed by days so flat the ocean looked like a pond. Broken seat wheels, a repaired oarlock, and a heel injury made the crossing a test of persistence as well as endurance.

There were flying fish on deck, whales alongside the boat, and swims in water so clear it seemed almost purple. One whale looked directly at Bryan before slipping beneath the surface. He watched the spot where it disappeared for a long time.

“When you finish something like that, you feel something you’ll chase for the rest of your life,” Bryan recalls. “Euphoria is the closest word I have.”

What he wanted most on arrival was fresh fruit—a mango he had imagined for weeks. What he received was a hamburger, a beer, and a shot. After more than a month at sea, he still wanted the mango.

This account is drawn from Bryan’s recollections. Historical record rankings and any proposed combined crossing record remain to be verified.