Atlantic Rowers Complete their Challenge

Bertie Portal & James Cash raise £365,000 for Facing the World

After 63 days at sea and having rowed almost 3,000 miles, actor Robert ‘Bertie’ Portal and personal trainer James Cash have completed their bid to row the Atlantic to raise money for charity Facing the World.

Oars have been broken, the boat has been capsized, they were forced to return to the start when technical equipment failed and they have been trapped in their cabin for a week over Christmas, but the pair passed the finishing line at Port St. Charles in Barbados at 7am local time on Tuesday having raised over £365,000.

On completing their challenge, Bertie said: “I did this crossing in memory of my wonderful friend Martin Kelly and his charity Facing The World, and it's great to know that so much has been raised and that what we have done really will make a difference."

James added: “It’s been an epic journey and I think one that will take us a while to really get to grips with. It's great to be back on dry land and for us both to have a chance to really reflect on the enormity of what we have achieved both at sea and on dry land. 

Facing the World is a charity founded by the late Martin Kelly and other leading craniofacial surgeons so that children with facial disfigurements can receive the surgery they require to transform their faces and future. Bertie was a close friend of Martin and his wife, actress Natascha McElhone, and when the former died suddenly in 2008, Bertie made a promise to help raise money for the project. Having enlisted James and signed up to the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a row from La Gomera to Barbados, the duo trained for two years before setting off in December.

During the row, two films in which Bertie appears, My Week with Marilyn and The Iron Lady, have been premiered and released, and throughout the challenge they have received messages of support from friends including Simon Curtis, Hugh Bonneville and Stephen Moyer.

For further information on Bertie and James’ bid to row the Atlantic please visit www.facingtheatlantic.com

for further information on Facing the World please visit www.facingtheworld.net

Please send press enquiries to Ben Lyttelton on ben.lyttelton@multitudemedia.co.uk, +44 (0)207 2994241