Record rowers hallucinate in the mid-Atlantic – why is World Cup winner Greenwood forcing me to wear shorts?

The Four Oarsmen and Mark Slats both set records for rowing the Atlantic, but the brutal sleep pattern caused their imaginations to run wild

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The Four Oarsmen set the world record for rowing the Atlantic. Peter Robinson (right) thought Will Greenwood was on board. Photo: Atlantic Campaigns

Published: 2:50pm, 27 Feb 2018Updated: 10:07pm, 27 Feb 2018

Peter Robinson was in the middle of the Atlantic, isolated in his small rowing boat with only three friends for company when he was woken by Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood.

Former England centre Greenwood then forced Robinson to wear rugby shorts, an uncomfortable garment for ocean rowing, and Robinson was livid.

He ventured out onto deck for his two-hour rowing shift, and when he voiced his anger his crew mate pointed out that Greenwood was not on board and he was wearing Lycra rowing shorts.

“But for the next two hours I was convinced Will Greenwood was there,” Robinson said, before he began to realise he was hallucinating.

The Four Oarsmen celebrate as they reach Antigua. Photo: Atlantic Campaigns

Robinson, a former Hong Kong resident and rugby player for Hong Kong Football Club, was en route to set the record for rowing the Atlantic with his friends Stuart Watts, George Biggar and Dicky Taylor as The Four Oarsmen.

They were part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – a 4,800km race from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Boats are unsupported so carry all their own food and make water.