A north-east rower forced to pull out of a 3,000-mile challenge has said he has “no regrets” about ending his adventure early.
Robert Strachan had to abandon the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge after an infection spread from his naval to his knee, leaving him in constant agony.
His Rowing for Rascals partner Duncan Adamson Brown is continuing the rest of the journey in aid of the ARCHIE Foundation on his own.
And when the 34-year-old, of Torry, got to dry land he discovered his mother had suffered a stroke, and then diagnosed with cancer.
This week, Mr Strachan took to the waters of the River Dee for the first time since landing at Antigua following an arduous 42 days of rowing.
Yesterday, Mr Strachan said he did not regret pulling out with 922 nautical miles to go, even though the challenge had been two-and-a-half years in the making.
And he revealed his rescue had not been straightforward, as although he had started to recover, the boat he was on got into difficulty – taking on water due to a proper malfunction, forcing them to head for land at the race’s finishing point of Antigua.
“Initially I got a fungal infection from my naval down and about two weeks after that I got my knee infection,” said Mr Strachan.
“We knew it was bad. I couldn’t treat one because the other one flared up. It wasn’t the pain so much that got me, because I had tramadol and paracetamol.
“It would have been too much of a risk to stay. The fungal infection flared up at night. It felt like my whole body was on fire.
“But being right in the Atlantic, there was no chance of seeing a doctor. It is quite scary. I am quite happy with the choice I made at the end of the day, it is the end of my adventure.”
Only days later, he discovered his mother had taken ill, and he was keen to get home.
Mr Brown has about 400 miles left to cover, and the pair’s efforts has already raised more than £3,000 for charity.
“I am just glad Duncan can carry on,” Mr Strachan added.
The Rascals had been using a “two-hours on, two-hours off” schedule, living mostly on dried food with a sparse supply of water.
They were also forced to spend two hours a day pumping water from their vessel, the Papa Delta, following a malfunction and suffered a week of seasickness at the start of the race.
However, Mr Brown said there was no rift between himself and his team mate, whom he works with at Aberdeen’s Pure Gym, following his departure.
Mr Strachan added: “There was no hard feelings about me heading off. I needed to get off the boat and he was quite happy to carry on. You kind of cover these things before the race.”
Donations to the ARCHIE Foundation – and the pair’s second cause, Great Ormond Street Hospital – can still be made by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Rowing4Rascals