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Scottish all-women team completes 3,000-mile Atlantic row

Steven McKenzieHighlands and Islands reporter
News imageWorld's Toughest Row The three women are standing in their boat holding up red flares as they celebrate finishing their row.World's Toughest Row
The three women have arrived in Antigua after rowing from the Canary Islands

An all-women team of rowers from Scotland has completed a race across the Atlantic dubbed the World's Toughest Row.

Nicky Matthews, Fiona Deakin and Heather McCallum set off on their 3,000-mile (4,828km) from La Gomera in the Canary Islands in December.

They have crossed the finish line in Antigua in the Caribbean.

Ms Deakin is a B&B proprietor in Cromarty in the Highlands, Ms McCallum is a police officer and Ms Matthews worked in social care at Angus Council for more than 20 years.

A fourth member of the team, Andrena McShane-Kerr, from Glasgow, had to leave the boat at the beginning of the race after taking unwell.

News imageScotland the Wave Andrena McShane-Kerr is wearing sunglasses and smiling as she encourages her fellow team members as they row their small Scotland the Wave
The team started out as a crew of four in December

After arriving in Antigua, the three women said they had embraced any challenges they had faced along the way.

Matthews said: "We loved it.

"There were a couple of moments we were down and teary, but the rest of the time we was amazing."

She added: "We're going to do it again aren't we?"

"No," said Deakin in response to her friend's question.

McCallum said they spent "90% of the time laughing", adding: "We've stuck together, not one argument. It's been amazing."

The World's Toughest Row Atlantic 2025 raises money for different charities.

Teams can take up 50 to 60 days to complete the journey.