Two years ago, businessman David Ferrier had never picked up an oar yet he’s just completed ‘The World’s Toughest Row’. He told Suzanne Elsworth how boardroom excellence can convert into extreme challenges.
Two men, in a tiny boat called Seas the Moments, rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, in 70 days, 20 hours and 18 minutes…
On 13 December 2023, David Ferrier and Garry Hoyle left La Gomera in the Canary Islands bound for Antigua rowing 3000 miles in The Atlantic Challenge. They’re raising money for the Great North Air Ambulance which saves countless lives each year.
Tell me about your life as an entrepreneur?
I started my first business in 1980, two years after leaving school and realising that working for other people was not my thing. Initially I was a traditional coach painter and sign writer which in turn led me to setting up my first of many contracting businesses. Our clients were mainly local authorities in such fields as street lighting, electrical and plant services, then latterly, parking services.
The World’s Toughest Row is just your latest challenge – what else have you done?
I’ve swum the English Channel, completed many marathons, triathlons and Iron-distance events, and done the Three Peaks Yacht Race which involves sailing Britain’s west coast and running up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
Why take on the World’s Toughest Row?
I’d been aware of the race for about 10 years and just had it on my bucket list. I originally planned to do it for my 60th birthday but waited to complete it with my friend Garry. I had my 62nd birthday at sea, and he celebrated his 60th in October.
What do you get from potentially lethal challenges?
There’s a sense of achievement and fulfilment knowing that you have pushed yourself to new boundaries. Then there are also the health benefits of keeping a reasonable level of fitness, especially as the years move on.
What was the hardest part of the Row?
The seas were massive, probably the worst conditions the race has seen so far. We found ourselves surfing down 30 foot waves at 10 knots – that would be more than 30mph in a car. We would look back up and it almost felt like the wave was going to come over us and swamp the boat. At times we were the most northerly, and the most southerly, of the fleet of 39 boats taking part as the winds blew us off the most direct course. I was washed overboard by a sequence of two rogue waves.
Was it more demanding for body or mind?
At one stage we had to sit on para-anchor for days on end to stop us being dragged too far north. The further up you go, the harder it is to get back down. That was tough and frustrating. We’d listen to audio books – from Harry Potter to Peter Kay, and one by extreme rower Roz Savage which fired us up to start rowing again.
Did you have time, or inclination, to appreciate the environment around you?
I was really looking forward to the tranquility and a simpler way of life. We were doing this unsupported, carrying dried rations and using solar power for all our electrics. The crystal clear night skies and the wildlife sightings were amazing – birds landing on the boat, whales swimming alongside us, marlin swimming beneath us, and the days when the sea was as flat as a mirror. Watching the birdlife change meant we were getting closer to our destination.
What skills have you learned in business that lend themselves to a challenge like this?
Focus and commitment along with respect for every eventuality. There are so many unknowns in life and in business so coping with them and conquering them will always lead to a successful outcome.
How do you beat the ‘I don’t have time to do that’ mindset and persuade someone that pushing their boundaries will enhance their boardroom performance?
I am a ‘glass brimming over’ type of person and in business that really helps to ease the mind of customers. In work, or outside it, positivity far outweighs negativity. That, in turn, relieves stress, enhances your life and your wellbeing.
To donate to the Atlantic Challenge fundraiser on behalf of the Great North Air Ambulance, please go to justgiving.com and search ‘David Ferrier’.
