He grew up on the banks of the River Tay but his experience on water peaked at travelling to the Outer Hebrides on a CalMac ferry.
Despite this, Perthshire’s Fraser Potter was this week reflecting on the incredible achievement of rowing 3000 miles unsupported across the fierce Atlantic Ocean.
Former Breadalbane Academy pupil Fraser (33), of Dunkeld, was competing in the Talisker Atlantic Challenge alongside Ian Baird, Duncan Hughes, Ross McKinney and Clive Rooney.
The team, who went by the name of Five in a Row, departed La Gomera in Spain on December 12 and safely arrived in Antigua in the Caribbean on Monday.
Their epic journey lasted 36 days, three hours and 33 minutes. They placed third out of 36 teams.
“There were a lot more repercussions than just the personal endeavour – it was not just a turn up and row,” laughed Fraser. “It was two years in the planning, a lot of funding, emails and certificates.
“You can’t just take off in an ocean rowing boat and know what you are doing. I’d never been to sea before.
“I’d been on a CalMac ferry to the Outer Hebrides but never even on a yacht at sea. It was very much an unknown for me.
“But I’ve wanted to do this for six or seven years. I’d spoken to a chap who had done a solo and he told me it was, at times, like being in a washing machine in a cabin you can’t get out of. I’m not sure what my brain was thinking when I thought that would be a good idea. It planted the seed.”
Having set off from La Gomera, the first week was quick to bring memories to last a lifetime.
“A pod of dolphins had been following us on day five,” Fraser smiled. “I jumped in and swam with them. That was incredible.
“We had seen sharks and there were Minke whales swimming under the boat. The Atlantic ocean is so deep and vast.
“There wasn’t really much to see other than blue water and the horizon. But every time you saw a shark or whale, it was the highlight of the day or even the week. You would see a fin coming at you and you’d think you would be petrified. It was surreal.”
A rotation system was in operation for the duration of the crossing whereby two members would sleep for two hours, while the other three in the team would keep on rowing.
“The boat itself wasn’t really designed for five people,” Fraser explained. “It was very snug.
“My average step count would be about 20 a day going from my cabin to my stroke seat. I would step out and sit down.
“If you weren’t rowing, you had to be in your cabin. Sweating mostly. It was exceptionally hot.
“But it’s incredible what the body can forgo and its ability to keep going. You would come off the oars and there wasn’t an inch of energy left. Two hours later you got up and did the exact same again. It didn’t matter if it was the middle of the night or during the day, you had to get up and go.”
That was the case whether rain, wind or shine – or 40-foot waves that came crashing down onto the boat from all angles and often in pitch black conditions. It was, understandably, a tad frightening at times.
Fraser, owner of The Taybank in Dunkeld, said: “We had one really bad night of storms. Things really were not good.
“We were rowing with not much of a full moon at night so it was quite dark.
“That one night was horrendous. You had no idea where waves were coming from. Waves from the left, right, forward, behind.
“If you got off the oars, the boat would end up spinning round and going in the wrong direction. You needed to be careful with that.
“On a 20-minute basis you were getting pinged around. But at the same time, it was exciting. You don’t do this experience not to have the highs and lows.
“We were lucky when daylight came and things started to calm down. You got used to it, although couldn’t become complacent.”
It may have been quite easy to forget that a race was ongoing through all this but Fraser’s competitive nature had kicked into action.
“We moved into third place and you think: ‘Okay, we’re actually competitive’,” said Fraser, who was the youngest on the boat.
“It can be a strategic race where plans are fluidly changing. If you get good winds and favourable seas, you can be quick. But into the wind it can be very horrible.
“We chipped away and caught the team in second. We were three miles ahead, then three miles behind, then zero miles.
“The night before we got in we were neck-and-neck. We had been rowing for 35 days – how could we possibly be zero miles apart?
“But we were and they got the favourable seas to pip us to the post. We accepted that and it didn’t take the shine off what we achieved.”
All the organising, highs, lows, blisters, bruises and cuts were worth it when the boat landed on Antigua.
“The body had started to give up that last 24 hours,” admitted Fraser, who lost nine kilos during the trip.
“My bottom was very painful with sores having repeatedly been sitting and sliding on the same seat.
“I hadn’t washed properly for 35 days. You use wet-wipes.
“But we landed into Antigua on Monday morning and it was an incredible experience. It was the warmest of welcomes.”
As Fraser supplied his body with nutrients, already there are thoughts about his next adventure.
“This has certainly ticked off a box,” he smiled.
“You do have a lot of time to think when rowing. There is definitely an itching to do something else. Maybe it’s the start of something that I won’t be able to get away from. The adrenaline. So we’ll see. But at the moment there are no plans to row anymore oceans.”
• As well as competing in the race, the team has been raising money for Reverse Rett. Crew-member Ross’ daughter Eliza has Rett Syndrome. To donate, search ‘Five in a Row - Atlantic Challenge’ on JustGiving.com.
