Update: The team launched December 13th and almost one month in, they're still going strong!
Follow their mission on Facebook.
(previous story elements)
The Foar Brothers are now two weeks into the 'World’s Toughest Row' Competition.
They spent Christmas in the mid-Atlantic, and displayed their sea-worthy Christmas stockings.
(Background, from our 12/14 original story)
Imagine getting in a rowboat and paddling down a lazy river on a warm afternoon. It sounds like a relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors without a care in the world. Yes?
How about rowing a boat 3,000 miles in the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of Africa to Antigua in December? Whoa!
That’s the adventure of the “Foar Brothers,” (cool play on words '4 + oar') a team that consists of three of the Hamilton brothers—Timothy, Thomas, and Trent, and their nephew, Ben Clark. The oldest brother, Troy, was scheduled to be part of the team but a back injury sidelined him, so Clark took his place.
The boat that will take the Foar Brothers to the finish line is built for safety, not comfort. It's approximately 30 feet long and narrow--similar to a canoe. The team will take shifts rowing with two rowers propelling the boat forward 24 hours a day, seven days a week without stopping. While two of the rowers are working, the other two will rest in a small area located at the front and back of the boat. According to Thomas Hamilton, the space is slightly larger than a coffin. While in the boat, each person is harnessed to the boat for safety purposes.
Three of the Hamilton brothers reside in south Florida, while Trent Hamilton is a resident of Xenia, Ohio. Troy (Niceville, Florida) earned a degree in Bible from Cedarville University in 1995. Trent Hamilton graduated in 2002 with a degree in mechanical engineering, while Thomas Hamilton (Niceville, Florida) graduated from Cedarville University in 2005 with a degree in biology. Timothy Hamilton (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) attended Cedarville in 2005.
The Foar Brothers entered the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of Africa at 8:15 am EST on Wednesday, Dec. 13. They are participating in the World’s Toughest Row, a competition that includes 38 teams, and their arrival date in Antigua is unknown, primarily due to weather uncertainties, but they expect to arrive by mid-February.
“We have never done anything this adventurous as brothers before this race,” said Thomas Hamilton during a recorded interview on the Cedarville Stories Podcast.
The idea to enter the World’s Toughest Row was floated by Timothy in January 2021, and it took Thomas nearly a year to agree. Trent, meanwhile, liked the idea from the beginning. But when Thomas made the decision, he went full boar in training and preparing, which included an intense experience in the water off the coast of Denmark this past summer.
From the beginning, the Hamilton brothers have focused on three core tenets for their adventure: to deepen their spiritual faith, to experience and benefit from the struggles of endurance, and to strengthen their already strong bond with each other. They are also raising visibility and funds for Send Relief, a Southern Baptist one-stop shop for compassion ministry at home and abroad that responds to crises and strengthens vulnerable communities by meeting physical and spiritual needs throughout the world.
In preparation for the race, the Foar Brothers went through extensive training, while also building a large supply of food that would sustain them while they were rowing in the Atlantic Ocean. They have enough food to keep them nourished, and their water supply will come from filtered Atlantic Ocean water.
They also have backup navigation and communication devices in case something breaks or goes wrong on the open water. And, should they be forced to leave their boat for any reason, they have an alternate life boat for their safety.
“We have redundancies of communication, a lifeboat in case something happens to our boat, and other necessary supplies,” said Thomas. “But the main objective of our boat is to get us to the finish line, and as long as the manufacturer of our boat has been in business, they have never lost a boat in this race.”
While this is a race, Thomas was quick to point out it’s not the competition that is important, it’s the brotherhood and spiritual journey.
“For us, winning [the World’s Toughest Row] is about crossing the finish line in a reasonable time,” said Thomas.
To follow the race, visit the Foar Brothers’ Facebook page.
The race is barely a couple of days old, but the lessons learned by the Foar Brothers will likely endear them to each other for life. They will be able to share remarkable stories and photos with family and friends, and in the end, see how this journey has strengthened their relationships and deepened their faith.
It’s clearly an adventurous journey. But they’re doing it as a band of brothers until they reach Antiqua.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 5,456 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.