Hennigan was taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, which claims on its official website to be the “world’s toughest row” and proudly boasts that “more people have been into space or climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic.”

Update from the Mid Atlantic… Folk may wonder when they see the Zig Zag on the tracker this morning. #rowgavrow Gavan was hit by some very heavy weather last night. It started to knock him backwards so he deployed the sea anchor. It was on a short rope initially but he was still drifting at over half a knot so he put it out on a longer line and that held him steady. He has had very little sleep over the past few days and was exhausted by the time the squalls past and he hauled the sea anchor back on board he was unable to row. So he hit the bunk and caught up on some badly needed recovery sleep. He is relieved to hear the crewed competition didn’t gain during this period and most seem to have been hit by the same weather. Marvel comics will be investigating his abilities after this! Detailed weather forecasting is very difficult in mid ocean because there are few data points available. It looks like he will have another 36 hours or so of mixed light weather and then it looks like the badly needed trade winds get re-established.

A photo posted by Gavan Hennigan (@soulogav) on Jan 15, 2017 at 4:11am PST

The bearded Hennigan made the grueling 3,000 nautical mile (5,000km) journey in a specialized ocean rowing boat across the world’s second largest ocean from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour, Antigua in the Caribbean.

Upon finishing the mammoth journey, the tattoo-sporting adventurer from Galway celebrated the achievement on his boat, brandishing an Irish tricolor and clad in green, white and orange shorts with “Ireland” emblazoned on the rear.

“I just got sent through some of the stuff and I’m just absolutely blown away by the amount of people following me, people following the tracker sending messages of support,” said Gavan in his first interview after finishing the race, given portside while still standing on his boat.

“I had so many messages of well wishes and people just telling me to keep going. I’d get up a few days and I’d really be struggling and I’d just read a few of those just to help me keep going.

After 49 days and 5000km… #twac2016 #rowgavrow

A photo posted by Gavan Hennigan (@soulogav) on Feb 1, 2017 at 6:17pm PST

“I wouldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. Seriously, it’s amazing. Thanks to everyone back home in Ireland. I’m so proud as an Irish person to come in and do this race. Not many Irish people have done it.

“Just to represent the country, just to fly the flag, it’s been amazing,” he added.

Hennigan, who bore a resemblance to MMA superstar and fellow countryman Conor McGregor in his celebratory outfit, became only the second Irish person to complete the challenge after Shane McGowan – whose record Hennigan beat by 69 days, therefore also setting a national record.

The feat is all the more impressive given that Hennigan battled drug and drink addiction for most of his youth as he struggled to admit his homosexuality. It eventually landed him in rehab at the age of 21.

Following his recovery, Hennigan worked as an oil rig worker before becoming an “extreme environment athlete,”completing challenges such as travelling 700km north to south across Lake Baikal in Russia with a 60kg sled in 17 days.

Hennigan, who goes by the name ‘Soulo Gav’ when competing, completed the challenge while raising money for youth mental health charity Jigsaw Galway and Cancer Care West.

He raised over €12,000 ($13,000) for local Galway charities by taking on two Arctic races.

Made it!!! Lake Baikal Solo – 700km – 17 Days

A photo posted by Gavan Hennigan (@soulogav) on Mar 18, 2016 at 3:03am PDT

Four-man teams ‘Latitude 35’ (USA) and ‘Row for James’ (UK) finished first and second respectively, followed by Hennigan, with American Oarsmen (US) coming in fourth.