Former Leinster rugby player Damian Browne was in good spirits as he took to Instagram to update followers on his Atlantic Ocean row two months since he and Fergus Farrell departed from New York.
Browne and Farrell left New York's Chelsea Piers together back in June as they set their sights on rowing across the Atlantic Ocean from the Big Apple to Galway in record time.
However, 13 days into their expedition the duo's progress was halted as Fergus had to be extracted from their vessel Cushlamachree owing to severe exhaustion and a low blood oxygen percentage.
Thankfully, assistance came from a Singapore flagged tanker named the Hafnia Shenzhen and Fergus was brought onboard and taken to the medical room for further assessment.
Having responded well to treatment onboard the Hafnia Shenzhen, he remained on the vessel until she docked in New York. There, he was transferred to hospital for further assessment.
He provided an update via his Instagram page two weeks after disembarking the vessel and thankfully his physical health was much improved by that stage.
He did concede that having to leave the boat was a crushing blow.
He said: "My body failed after two very difficult weeks.
"After giving my readings to the doctor and asking him to make a decision, to hear within 30 seconds that the expedition was over and I had to get off that boat, immediately I had a huge emotional moment; I couldn't stop sobbing.
"It just really hit hard and it was quick.
"It was the right decision. Even now, I'm [physically] nowhere near right."
That was then, and this is now. Damian made the decision to carry on solo - a daunting task for most, but not altogether unfamiliar territory for him.
Back in 2017, he rowed solo east to west across the Southern North Atlantic and ultimately arrived to the island of Antigua to a hero’s welcome.
Now, after 48 days alone at sea and inching ever closer to Galway Bay, Damian is beyond the halfway point as he continues to fight off the mental, physical and emotional bumps and bruises such a challenge presents.
Taking to his Instagram page - something made possible by the SAT phone which allows him to get online - he updated his followers on his progress 61 days into the trip.
He said: "Hi guys, day 61 from about 820 or 830 nautical miles from Galway city.
"Getting there slowly but surely. Today is a significant day in the timeline of the project in that it's exactly two months since myself and Gussy pushed away from Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.
"What a two months it's been. Lots of twists and turns, expected things and unexpected things. The unforgettable and the forgettable.
"I'm feeling good, spirits are really high, body's pretty good. Hands are starting to creak a little bit, backside is being managed."
Damian also revealed that a certain mantra is currently aiding him in getting the work done - so much so, he has written inside the cabin of the boat.
"I'm working off the mantra chop wood, carry water at the moment. I wrote it inside the cabin and it's working great for me. Just do the work, do the work, do the work, get the work done every day.
"[I'm] putting plenty of imagination and visualisation into the finish and using the emotions that come from that to drive me."
And as the quest continues, he had a message for waiting family and friends back in Galway.
"Looking forward to seeing ye all in Galway, particularly family and friends.
"Much love from two thirds of the way there."
Damian Browne is rowing 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Galway as part of Project Empower. You can stay updated on their progress by following the Project Empower Instagram and Project Empower Facebook pages.
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