Rower hailed a champion after historic solo Atlantic crossing

THEY PLAYED We Are The Championsfor one Munster man yesterday and it was entirely appropriate.

Limerickman Seán McGowan rowed into English Harbour in Antigua yesterday to a rousing reception as he became the first Irish-based oarsman to row solo across the ocean. It had been 118 days, one hour and 14 minutes since he left La Gomera in the Canary Islands in his little boat Tess.

“I’m very wobbly in the legs – the first few steps were a bit of a test,” the exhausted but happy 42-year-old said. “I’ve just had a few chips and a burger, and a very cold beer. It was a great welcome here and I’m looking forward now to getting back to Shannon and meeting my wife and kids.”

McGowan and his wife Lorraine, who kept him buoyed with calls and texts to his satellite phone, have not seen each other for four months. They will have a private meeting at Shannon airport on Friday before McGowan meets the public.

“It will be great to see him again,” she said yesterday. “I’m sure the noise might get to him after a while – after having peace and quiet for so long,” she joked.

When McGowan weighed in yesterday in Antigua he found he had lost 28kg on a journey which would have tested any human: he was hit by sea sickness and storms, he fell out of his boat twice, the gate for his oar broke and he had to fix it three times, for a long while his watermaker would not work, his hands cramped and he had to strap them to the oars and he twice had near misses with ships.

He said the lowest point had been the storms which almost capsized Tess. "But 90 per cent of the row was tough and horrible. Maybe 8 per cent was okay, and 2 per cent was wonderful." The best moment? "The finish today actually. It was the cherry on top. I got a fantastic welcome."

His brother Tom and sisters Bridget and Donna were among the Irish who flew to Antigua to greet him.

Munster rugby players and staff supported him and made donations to the charity he rowed for – the South African-based Soweto Connection – with the aim of providing a nutrition centre in the townships.

The achievement of the man from Shannon Rowing Club sees him join a small group of Irishmen who have rowed the Atlantic – but he is the first Irish-based rower to complete the feat solo.