PEMBROKESHIRE’S all-female rowing crew Merched y Mor have completed one of the hardest endurance challenges on the planet after crossing the Atlantic Ocean in just over fifty days.

Denise Leonard, Helen Heaton, Liz Collyer and Heledd Williams arrived at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua on Monday (Feb 2) after rowing roughly 3,000 miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands as part of the World’s Toughest Row.

Their official crossing time was 50 days, 14 hours and 43 minutes.

The team becomes the first all-Wales female crew ever to finish the transatlantic race, joining a small global community of ocean rowers who have successfully crossed the Atlantic under human power alone. Organisers frequently note that fewer people have completed the crossing than have travelled into space.

Life at sea

For seven weeks, the four women lived aboard their boat Cariad, rowing in pairs around the clock in two-hour shifts, day and night.

They battled steep Atlantic swells, equipment issues and relentless fatigue, with waves reported at up to twenty feet. Temperatures swung from chilly nights to intense daytime heat, while flying fish, salt sores and sleep deprivation became part of daily life.

There were no days off. Christmas, New Year and birthdays were marked mid-ocean.

Communication with home was limited to satellite messages and brief calls, making morale and teamwork critical.

The crew said their strategy was simple: break the challenge into small pieces.

“We just took one day at a time and looked after each other,” they said after stepping ashore. “Kindness and teamwork got us through.”

Months of preparation

The race, widely described as the world’s toughest endurance row, demands far more than fitness.

Teams must be fully self-sufficient, carrying their own food, water makers, safety gear and navigation equipment. Crews train for months in open water, learning survival skills, first aid, and how to repair equipment at sea.

For Merched y Mor, much of that preparation happened along the Pembrokeshire coast, building strength and sea confidence in conditions not unlike the Atlantic’s winter swells.

Each member came with a different personal motivation, from setting an example to their children and grandchildren to proving that age and background are no barriers to big ambitions.

Before departure, Denise Leonard said she wanted to show “that if you take a chance and are brave enough to try, extraordinary things are possible.”

Warm welcome in Antigua

Their final approach into Antigua was emotional, with families waiting on the quayside.

After weeks without physical contact, the first hugs brought tears from both crew and supporters.

“It didn’t feel real until we saw them,” the team said. “Those first hugs were just the best.”

Rowing for good causes

The challenge was not just personal.

The crew are raising funds for several charities close to their hearts, including the RNLI, Sea Trust Wales, Action for Children and Popham Kidney Support. Proceeds from sponsorship and the planned sale of their boat will be shared between the causes.

A proud moment for Pembrokeshire

Back home, messages of congratulations poured in from across the county, with supporters tracking the boat’s progress online throughout the crossing.

Their achievement places Pembrokeshire firmly on the international endurance-sport map and offers an inspiring story of resilience, teamwork and determination.

After fifty days alone with the ocean, Merched y Mor have returned not just as finishers, but as record-makers — proof that a small Welsh crew can take on the Atlantic and win.

CONCERNS over the future of one of Wales’ four professional rugby regions were raised in the Senedd this week, as calls grew for greater transparency over proposals that could put the Ospreys at risk.

Speaking in the debating chamber on Tuesday (Feb 3), Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, urged the Welsh Government to press the Welsh Rugby Union to publish a full social, economic and community impact assessment before any decision is taken to reduce the number of professional teams.

The move follows reports that one region could be cut as part of ongoing restructuring talks within Welsh professional rugby, with the Ospreys widely understood to be among those most at risk.

Calls for impact assessment

Addressing ministers in the Senedd Cymru, Ms Williams asked what discussions had taken place between government and the WRU about the wider consequences of such a decision.

She questioned what steps would be taken to prevent “lasting damage” to communities in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, and whether ministers would require the union to publish a detailed assessment covering social, economic and regeneration impacts.

Ms Williams told members that the issue went beyond elite sport.

“From schools to cafes, from community rugby clubs to local councils, there is a deep concern about the wider impact of removing a professional rugby team that underpins participation pathways, local pride and regional identity,” she said.

She also warned that uncertainty over the region’s future could jeopardise redevelopment plans for St Helen’s Ground in Swansea, arguing that the loss of a professional side would weaken the city’s sporting and economic profile.

Government response

Responding on behalf of ministers, Jane Hutt said the matter ultimately rested with the WRU.

“This is a matter for the WRU, of course,” she told the chamber.

The response drew criticism from Ms Williams, who later described it as disappointing and said the Government could not “wash their hands” of the issue given public investment in professional rugby and commitments to regeneration and well-being.

WRU autonomy

While the Welsh Government has provided funding to support professional rugby in recent years, the WRU operates as an independent governing body and makes its own decisions about the structure of the regional game.

Supporters of that position argue that sporting and commercial decisions must remain with the union, particularly as Welsh rugby continues to face financial pressures, falling attendances and the need to ensure long-term sustainability.

However, critics say the potential removal of a region would have knock-on effects far beyond the pitch, affecting jobs, grassroots participation and local businesses linked to matchdays.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Gareth Davies MS, said: “If these reports are true, this is a deeply sad day for Welsh rugby. The Ospreys are Wales’ most successful professional rugby team, and by casting them aside the WRU is showing a shocking lack of ambition and a complete disregard for both Ospreys supporters and Welsh rugby fans.

“My thoughts are with the Ospreys’ players, coaches, employees and supporters. This will be extremely distressing news, and the WRU must ensure that staff are properly supported through any transition process.

“It is embarrassing that the WRU has lacked the backbone to be open about its plans, allowing this information to be leaked to the media. The WRU already faces a monumental task in rebuilding trust with supporters, and the manner in which this decision appears to have been handled will only make that challenge even harder.”

Community concerns

The Ospreys have been a central part of the rugby landscape in South West Wales for more than two decades, producing international players and drawing supporters from across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.

Local campaigners say any reduction in the professional footprint risks weakening youth development pathways and reducing opportunities for young players.

With talks ongoing, no formal decision has yet been announced.

But the debate in the Senedd signals that any move to cut a region is likely to face political as well as sporting scrutiny in the months ahead.

PLANS for works at Tenby’s historic sailing club building, part of the ‘iconic view’ of the town’s harbour have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Tenby Sailing Club, through agent David J P Morgan RIBA Architect sought permission for the two openings in second floor gable wall along with two new windows at Tenby Sailing Club, Penniless Cove Hill, along with a related listed building consent.

The application was supported by Tenby Town Council and Tenby Civic Society, the latter saying it will “add value to the use of the building and maintain the character and value of the listed building and the conservation area”.

Supporting documents for the application said: “The proposal is to form two new openings in the stonework and install two windows. These will replicate the existing windows at first floor level below. The openings will have red brick head as on existing original openings on the building. The proposal will have very little adverse impact on the listed building.”

They added: “The proposed new windows will improve observation of the harbour and bay from the second-floor level. This is where yacht racing is monitored and observed by officials and safety personnel.”

An officer report, recommending approval said: “The sailing club was built as a warehouse c. 1825, abutting the C17 sluice. Originally wine stores, it was later used by the local fishermen for stores and is now the home to Tenby Sailing Club, established in 1936. The rubble-built building is of three storeys and four bays, the glazing all later C20 with a slated roof and a modernised interior. There is a large steel stair to north (seaward) elevation.”

It added: “The building forms part of a group picturesquely clustered around the sluice, in turn forming part of the iconic view of Tenby Harbour. The proposal is to insert two windows at second floor level to the north (seaward) elevation, flanking the existing door,” adding: “The area retains its mercantile character not just in appearance, but also through its character due to ongoing use as fishing boat stores and winter moorings.

“The sailing club has occupied the building for many years and remains very active. The proposal is intended to improve the amenity of the building to provide better viewing at elevation and seeks to copy the detail and proportions of the windows at first floor stage.”

The application, and the related listed building consent, was conditionally approved by park planners.