Maltese endurance athlete Steve Chetcuti has etched his name in national sporting history after becoming the first Maltese man to complete a solo, unsupported crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in English Harbour, Antigua, in the early hours of Saturday morning following an extraordinary 54-day journey at sea.
Chetcuti reached land shortly after 1.15 am Malta time, bringing to an end a remarkable challenge that saw him row approximately 3,000 miles across the Atlantic entirely alone. He completed the crossing in 54 days, 7 hours, and 56 minutes, and was immediately greeted upon arrival by family members, including his wife, Desiree, his mother, and his sister, in an emotional reunion after nearly two months at sea.
The Maltese rower departed from La Gomera in Spain on December 14 as part of the renowned World’s Toughest Row event, competing in the solo, unsupported category. On his final day, Chetcuti pushed himself to the limit, rowing continuously for 16 hours to reach Antigua and complete one of the most demanding endurance feats in modern sport.
This marked Chetcuti’s second Atlantic crossing but his first undertaken alone. In 2021, he formed part of a five-man crew that successfully rowed from Portugal to French Guiana in just over 51 days. This time, the challenge was entirely individual. He finished eighth in the solo category, 27th among male participants, and 39th overall from a field of 43 teams.
The physical and mental demands of the crossing were immense. Severe seasickness affected Chetcuti throughout the journey, preventing him from consuming sufficient calories and resulting in a weight loss of 19 kilograms. Extended isolation, sleep deprivation, and relentless ocean conditions also tested his psychological resilience.
Day 51 proved to be the most difficult moment of the expedition. In a recorded message during the crossing, Chetcuti revealed he experienced a full mental breakdown, overwhelmed by exhaustion and emotional strain. Encouragement from his wife, mother, sister, and the event support team played a crucial role in helping him regain focus and continue towards Antigua.
Upon arrival, Chetcuti dedicated the achievement to his three daughters, Kim, Mia and Lea, after whom his 25-foot rowing boat was named. He also paid tribute to his late brother Mike, in whose memory both of his Atlantic crossings were undertaken.
Reflecting on the experience, Chetcuti described the daily reality of solo ocean rowing as a constant battle against fatigue and the elements. Rowing for up to 12 hours a day, he endured weeks of minimal food intake, persistent wet conditions, and total isolation, encountering only one other rower briefly during the entire crossing.
Despite missing Christmas and two of his daughters’ birthdays while at sea, he also experienced unique moments of wonder, including spotting whales and watching the International Space Station pass overhead in the night sky.
Chetcuti will now spend several days in Antigua recovering before returning to Malta, where he will be welcomed home after completing one of the greatest endurance achievements ever recorded by a Maltese athlete.
