An Irishman who is leading the solo class in the World's Toughest Row - a gruelling 4,800km journey across the Atlantic - has described the 'amazing' moment he was cheered on by passengers of a passing cruise ship.
After departing the Canaries on 14 December, Galway businessman Daragh MacLoughlin, 42, had powered through over 4,000km of treacherous seas without seeing another person.
But last week, he spotted the cruise ship Queen Victoria approaching on the horizon.
"I called up the ship because they were approaching a little bit tight and some lady from Cork answered! And she said, 'do you mind if I pull up alongside, to give the passengers something to have a look at?" he said.
Minutes later, the larger vessel sailed past his carbon-fibre boat The Jasper, blowing its horn.
"When it pulled up alongside me, there seemed to be around a thousand people on the deck. It was amazing to have all these people screaming and shouting and waving an Irish flag at me.
"You've not seen anyone for 30 days and all of a sudden you are back in the thick of it," he said.
On Sunday, Mr MacLoughlin was 80 nautical miles ahead of his nearest rival in the race to the Caribbean.
The father-of-two said he signed up for the extreme race to test his own boundaries, and to raise funds for two Irish charities - Debra, which supports those living with 'Butterfly Skin’ disease EB, and Irish Dogs for the Disabled.
He has been speaking daily with his wife Suzanne and their daughters Maeve and Saoirse via satellite phone, and is looking forward to an emotional reunion at the finishing line in Antigua, later this week.
"My wife and kids are heading over, so it will be absolutely super to have them there," he said.
