Rowing Across the Atlantic for MND

What was your inspiration in raising money for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation?

Doddie is a very good friend whom I met a few years ago and we kept in touch. He was very kind to my young son Hamish who was 9 at the time and was told he was too small to play rugby. Doddie made his day at Murrayfield by picking him up and standing on a table in a large corporate forum and gave an inspiring speech about you can do anything in life no matter your size, age or background. It truly inspired Hamish who did play for his school and also went on to act with the National Youth Theatre in several West End plays. He truly gave Hamish the confidence to do what he wanted, and it gave me great inspiration to do something for Doddie when he was diagnosed with Motor neurone Disease (MND).

Why did you choose the name the Mad Giraffe?

The name belongs to Doddie and was given to him by the late great Bill McClaren. McClaren once said during a game when Doddie picked the ball up and raced down the field “when he goes like that he’s like a mad giraffe”. Doddie is always dressed in tartan and it is his trademark. I covered my rowing boat in his tartan and so it had to be called the Mad Giraffe, with Doddie's permission of course.

What was it about the Talisker Whisky Challenge that appealed to you?

My aim of doing something for Doddie was to find something that would keep the My Name5 Doddie Foundation in the news for a long time, and attract as many people as possible to donate. I was also looking to challenge myself again after 20 years of sitting in front of a laptop, and so the Solo Row was perfect for both these areas.

How did you prepare for rowing the Atlantic? What was your greatest challenge in this?

The most difficult thing was to raise the cash needed to take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. The cost of the boat, entry fee, courses and equipment including food all total to over £80,000 plus. I did manage to find many companies who would financially support me and also companies who gave me clothing, Satellite phones and emergency navigation equipment. The other issue was finding the time to get your qualification row time complete which was a minimum of 120hrs on the oars. Once this is done you can enter the challenge.

Did your time in the military benefit you in the preparation and completion of the challenge?

My time within Special Forces did help. I had done 2 of the military's most difficult selection processes and operated on a global basis for many years. A lot of the time you operate alone or part of a small team for long periods which requires a focus and professional approach and great tenacity 24/7. A lot of what I learned and had experienced working alone helped me get through the isolation and day to day routine. Also being on a small boat with food water and a place to sleep was luxury compared to what I had in the past.

What kind of difficulties did you face during the challenge?

I had many difficulties during the row so here are a few. Not many people knew that I did not do any physical training before I set off from La Gomera on the 3000-mile row. Madness I know but the reason was when you get a terminal disease like MND you don’t train for it, it happens and you have to deal with it from that day forward. That was my approach for the row. I did suffer because of this, and also had 13 days of seasickness which left me with mini convulsions and no energy, as I could not eat and keep down any food I had with me; except glucose sweets and some fresh oranges and peaches, my wife gave me before I set off. They were literally a lifesaver.

A few days after getting through the seasickness I came down with a virus which totally drained my strength and I made very little progress. I was over 400 miles behind everyone else. I managed to claw it back after that had past and had a great second half.

I think I need to mention the waves and storms. During a 2 day period, my boat was tipped end to end as I did not get to the top of a 60ft wave. They were relentless and I got smashed 3 times in 20 minutes which damaged my boat. Although tied on to the boat it was the first time I felt totally alone with no help and not afraid to say terrified.

Did you do anything to take your mind off of rowing?

I focused on writing a book for children when at sea and I completed this by the halfway point in my head. I am busy at this time getting it on paper.

Was there any point during the challenge that you thought that you wouldn’t be able to make it to Antigua? If so, what provided you with the strength to keep going?

I covered some of the scary bits above but it was my sickness and weight loss which I was really worried about. After speaking to a doctor via satellite phone when I caught the virus he told me I had to get to land asap. After explaining I was a solo in an ocean rowing boat he was even more firm about me being rescued. I know my own body and have pushed myself to the limits over my life, so I knew I could recover and finish the challenge. I also thought about the people with MND who have no choice and so no way I was going to ask to be picked up. It is amazing what the human body can do along with a strong mind and good resilience.

How did it feel to finally be back on dry land in Antigua and to have completed the challenge?

Wow! What a welcome I got arriving in Antigua. The 3 brothers of BROAR who also did the challenge had recorded some bagpipe music for me. One of the brothers Lachlan was on the quayside with my wife Jessica and my 4 children Lara, Hamish, Gretel and Lochlann. It was very emotional and I was very hungry, I had lost 24.8kg during the row, just under 4 stone in old money. It's at that time I realised that material things don’t matter, it's family friends and loved ones that are the most important thing in life.

How does it feel to have crossed the Atlantic in a tartan boat and to have raised so much money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation?

I am over the moon that Doddie let me use his tartan on the boat. I now am the oldest Scottish person to row solo across the Atlantic and the first 22 SAS soldier past and present to row solo across the Southern Atlantic Ocean. I will have raised around £32,000 on my just giving page and I have sold my boat with all of the money £47,000 going to for My Name5 Doddie Foundation. I am proud of raising nearly £80,000.

Have you any new challenges or adventures planned for the future?

I did say I would never get in a boat again to row an ocean, but I think it’s a bit like a woman giving birth. At that time of birth, they all say never again but as time goes by they get broody, well I am already broody to row again. I have a few ideas I am developing with my BROAR brothers so watch this space.

Do you have a favourite tartan?

Of course, I have a Davidson Ancient Tartan Kilt but I love most tartan. There is nothing like travelling to Paris or Rome in your kilt to watch Scotland play rugby and seeing the different tartans on show around these cities which always pleases the local population.