LIMERICK man Sean McGowan has become the first Irish rower to row solo across the Atlantic.
Sean arrived in Antigua on his boat Tess at 5pm Irish time today.
Members of his family were there to meet him in Antigua. Sean departed from the Canary Islands in January and after 118 days at sea and 2,500 nautical miles later he finally crossed the finish line.
A big celebration is planned for Sean when he arrives back in Shannon Airport on Friday.
Mayor Kevin Kiely said he would be inviting him into City Hall to a special reception.
Speaking to the Limerick Post and with just 180 miles to the finish, emotional, but still able to draw on the huge support that has followed him, Sean told this journalist just what it was like as land and the finish line loomed.
“It has been much harder than I thought, my body is wrecked and mentally I am reaching the end. I’ve been away from my family for too long but I have come so far, I have to keep going. Big waves crash over the boat in my face constantly and it is like a washing machine here at times.”
