Patrick Favre, a rower from France, shattered a world record on Thursday, August 29 when he landed in Baltimore, Co Cork after departing from Canada about a month earlier.
Favre, who set out from Trepassey in Newfoundland, Canada on July 28, was initially supposed to land back in his native France but was forced to change route due to weather.
Favre announced only earlier this week that he would be heading to “Ireland, home of the famous St. Patrick!”
In an update on Tuesday, he confirmed that Baltimore, on the southwest tip of Ireland, was his new destination.
"This village in County Cork has the Irish name Dún na Séad or Dunashad ('fort of the jewel')," he said in a post on the Rame Océan Facebook page, which tracked Favre's journey.
Rame Océan, which Favre is the president of, organizes logistics for ocean crossings by rowing boats.
Baltimore, Co Cork. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Favre noted that upon his final approach, he would see the “region’s most remarkable landmark,” the Baltimore Beacon.
Baltimore, West Cork. (Ireland's Content Pool)
On Wednesday, Favre further said that he would be passing Fastnet Rock, which he noted is known as ‘The Teardrop of Ireland' as “it was the last part of Ireland some 19th-century Irish immigrants saw as they sailed to North America.” It also marked the first European island Favre saw on his journey.
Fastnet Lighthouse, Co Cork. (Ireland's Content Pool)
After Fastnet, Favre rowed by Cape Clear Island and finally Sherkin Island; the latter constitutes the west wall of the pass to reach the Baltimore Harbor.
At daybreak on Thursday, Favre was off Cape Clear Island, only about ten miles from Baltimore where he finally touched land.
Cape Clear Island, West Cork. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Ultimately, Favre rowed a distance of 1719 nautical miles in 32 days, 7 hours, and 46 minutes - the fastest time for the route, Rame Océan said on Thursday.
Favre even rowed faster than all the double scull crews who have completed this crossing, Rame Océan said on Thursday. Only two boats with four and five rowers have been faster than Patrick on this route.
This was Favre’s ninth ocean row and his first crossing of the North Atlantic. He has previously crossed the Atlantic eight times from East to West solo, in double sculls, and in crewed boats.
Favre undertook the daunting rowing challenge to benefit the French charity Le Rire Médecin. Donations to the fundraiser were still open as of Thursday evening after Favre's Irish arrival.
Cork publication The Southern Star was on hand on Thursday to greet Favre’s arrival.
“I don't know if I am tired or not,” the record-setting rower told The Southern Star.
“It’s difficult. I was used to kind of a rhythm with the sea, and now we'll see in the next days.”
He added: “I already crossed the Atlantic eight times, this is the ninth crossing and it [the previous crossings] helped me a lot to do this crossing because it has been difficult with very strong winds and difficult situations.”
Though it wasn't initially part of his route, Favre said he was “very happy” to discover Baltimore in Co Cork.
“I came to Ireland [before] for rugby matches,” he told The Southern Star, “and it's always very special with the Irish.”
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