“We had the best coaching and support staff we could have dreamed of. First and foremost Duncan - without you we would have never performed so well. I’ve been coaching for 15 years now and you have taught me so much. You’re the ultimate Ocean Rowing Coach and the sport is progressing so fast because of the standard that you uphold. Your knowledge derived from your own epic campaigns let alone working with so many world record breaking teams leave you in a class of your own. More than just being so professional and competent in your delivery it is in fact your energizing and lovely personality which has left its mark. It was a highlight to have our morning chats and we felt your presence on the boat each and every day. Taking the time to constantly update and answer any questions our family and friends had every day was something you didn’t need to do, but meant so much to us all. You’re the best. Going above and beyond. The Sheriff of Yorkshire. Thank you brother, you’re a friend for life. ”

“Hands down the best decision we made as a team was to hire Duncan. This man. He is one of the most powerful inspirations I’ve ever come across, a hard arse when he needs to be and given the nature of the sport he’s coaching, would you want anything less? He is SO much more than a “coach”, his love for the sport and passion for teaching is incredible, he genuinely becomes part of the team. We listened. We learnt. We implemented. He took us on as a bunch of wild novices with ZERO rowing experience and turned us into WORLD RECORD HOLDING WINNERS… I think the result speaks for itself. Do yourself a favour and call Dunc. I love you brother ”

“Hired an Ocean Rowing Coach and made a friend for life. Duncan has a saying thrive, don’t just survive, on the Ocean and that is what we did. He is so focused on his teams and takes every step to ensure the safest and most ENJOYABLE crossing. He pushes you when you need pushing and listens when you just need to vent. Late night calls to my wife and kids when things were a little challenging out there, a middle of the night text on the Garmin in reach just when you needed it and lots of great humor along the way, he does it all. Duncan Roy LOVES ocean rowing and is so passionate about this beautiful and brutal sport that it permeates through everything he does. I feel so privileged that we got to work together on our campaign and have taken so many lessons from our time together that I now apply to both my business and personal life. Quite simply he is one of the best all round coaches you will ever work with, even if you are not crossing an ocean but just want to get the most out a big endeavor. ”

“Duncan was an essential part to the success of our campaign, and his coaching and daily check ins whilst on the water were what helped us clinch victory in the best possible way in our category. Everything from our first zoom session to last minute checks the morning of departure was delivered professionally. I truly mean it when I say I believe that Duncan is the best ocean rowing coach out there in terms of what he offers, his knowledge and his guidance and support throughout the whole campaign.”

“Duncan, is a rare breed! Humble, passionate, dedicated and patient. He is constantly adapting the training and his coaching style to suit the needs of the team. His positivity and enthusiasm creates the best learning environment possible. The team are truly grateful and couldn’t of achieved our goals without Duncan! He is now regarded by all the team as a great coach and friend. ”

“I would not attempt to row an Ocean without Duncan Roy in my corner. He has the ability to take you from zero to world record holder!. One of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. ”

“We worked with Duncan as our Ocean Rowing Coach for our 2022 Atlantic row and would 100% recommend him to all future ocean rowers. Thank you for being an amazing coach, friend and mentor throughout, taking 3 men who had never rowed before to getting a world record. His attention to detail and commitment to the team was unbelievable, even when mid Atlantic.

I cannot recommend Duncan highly enough to anyone contemplating an ocean row, so much so I am now working with Duncan for again for 2023.”

“In January 2023 I won the solo class of The World’s Toughest Row (Atlantic) and in the process became the fastest British person in history to complete that specific race. Whilst it was a solo row it was without question a team effort and the most influential part of that team was Duncan Roy. In my opinion, knowing what I now know of the challenges one faces when attempting to row across a large body of water, I simply would not have been capable to meet my own personal ambitions were it not for Duncan’s coaching.

From our very first session, when Duncan facilitated me setting a clear mission statement, achievable milestones and realistic objectives, I felt reassured of his guidance and omnipresent support. There were no questions too big or too small, no hour wasted training at sea or on land, no drop in Duncan’s infectious enthusiasm for his craft. Until landing in Antigua Duncan was the reassurance I needed that my preparation was more than adequate and my skill-set broad enough to ensure a safe, competitive and (mostly) enjoyable crossing. Duncan was the difference.

My personal view remains that every person attempting to cross an ocean in a rowing boat should receive a certain level of professional instruction and coaching. That learning and development should be a prerequisite not a choice. The challenge however is not only finding the right coach but also being humble enough to accept that rowing across an ocean can be a real risk to one’s life. Not seeking out the very best coach available is putting your own safety at risk.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Duncan as your ocean rowing coach. Were I to consider rowing across another ocean in the future then I would most certainly work with him again.

There are but a few trusted individuals on the planet experienced enough to offer the level of support, tools and coaching insights needed for proper safety, enjoyment and performance at sea.

In the U.K we’re fortunate enough to have a number of those individuals available to us as future ocean rowers.

In my personal opinion Duncan Roy is the very best ocean rowing coach in the world.”

“Having Duncan on board was the most important choice I made during my preparations for TWAC 2022.

Of course Dunc’s knowledge of ocean rowing and these boats was vital during my training, however Dunc was far more than just a coach, and having someone you can trust in your corner pre/during the greatest challenge of your life was invaluable for me.

Dunc was the main reason behind me feeling safe when leaving the jetty in La Gomera and I can’t recommend him highly enough for anyone who wants to be fully prepared for the Atlantic!”

“Duncan’s coaching was one of the best investments I made for my ocean rowing campaign. His seamless guidance during my transition from pair to solo rowing filled crucial knowledge gaps while amplifying my existing skills. His professionalism, evident in his meticulous approach and tailored advice, coupled with his genuine care for his teams’ success, sets him apart. It is his unwavering positivity which makes it impossible not to enjoy the training camps. Thanks for everything Duncan! ”

“It is difficult to imagine doing our ocean row without Duncan’s coaching. None of us had prior experience of rowing or life at sea. Duncan’s instruction was integral to getting us up to speed with what to expect on the crossing and giving us the confidence to tackle the challenges presented by the Atlantic. The Gold package was really well structured to develop our seamanship and test our skills, and Duncan made himself available to text or call whenever any of us had a question. As well as being a morale mountain he’s also very well connected to the Ocean Rowing Community and full of top-tips for where to get equipment/moor the boat etc so proved to be a huge boost to our campaign as well as to the crossing itself. He brought a huge amount to the team in terms of helping us identify what we wanted to get out of the experience and making sure we kept that front of mind whilst we were out on the water. I cant recommend his services highly enough. Thanks for being part of the team Duncan!”

“Working with Duncan was the best thing we did through our Atlantic Rowing campaign. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable, a brilliant coach and teacher he is also a great guy and went above and beyond to support our campaign and our crossing. ”

“When we decided to take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge we knew we needed the best coach, there was only one man for the job!!
Duncan has a wealth of ocean rowing knowledge and experience to pass on. Collectively we had a huge amount of marine experience between us but knew nothing about ocean rowing, we learnt a huge amount from Duncan meaning we were extremely prepared for anything which helped make our crossing as safe and enjoyable as it could be.
Throughout our year of training and preparation Duncan was always on the end of the phone ready to answer any questions we had or to offer advice if needed.
I am very grateful to have had the pleasure of meeting and training with Duncan.

If you’re thinking about rowing an ocean look no further, Duncan is your man!! ”

“We felt we constantly had Duncan in our corner, on our team and also as a superfan of us. He answered every question we had with a smile on his face and full of huge amounts of experience. He was adaptable with our training programme for when the weather wasn’t on our side and had tricks up his sleeve to still get us the best training. Duncan helped us outline our Team’s Mission, which I genuinely think was why we worked so incredibly well as a team. We were all on the same page and all knew what to expect from each other. So when the ocean crossing came the three of us worked unbelievably well together, we never argued, the whole way through our crossing, we just worked hard and laughed along the way (apart from one or two days when the weather got spicy). Duncan’s Yorkshire charm and experience was one of the best investments we made in our ocean crossing. ”

“Before rowing any ocean and from own personal experience I would highly recommend using the services of The Ocean Rowing Academy and the tuition and knowledge offered by Duncan Roy.

In my opinion, it doesn’t get any better than this and his expertise and training ensured I had a safe solo crossing from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia in 2023.

Thank you Duncan for being simply brilliant.”

“Our work with Duncan without a doubt was instrumental to the success of our crossing. His instruction and mentorship got us ready to execute training rows on our own, which boosted our confidence and tested our skills, preparing us well for our crossing. He made himself available for calls while we were out there, and he was a huge support. I can’t thank Duncan enough for what he brought to our team. ”

“Duncan!!! Seriously can’t thank you enough for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us. I obviously have nothing to compare our row with, but to me I feel it could not have been more successful. I never felt like i was in danger or trouble when things would go wrong and honestly besides our wheel and auto arm nothing went wrong- and I believe that’s because of the prep and information we got. I hope to see you soon to celebrate. Thank you for beimg part of our team!”

“Duncan is one of the most detail-oriented, diligently trained, responsive, supportive ocean rowing coaches in the world. My team and I had a 3 day intensive session with him, and multiple follow up phone calls, and this dude knows his sh*t. Between our sessions with Duncan and taking the responsibility on ourselves to master each skill-and-drill, we were more than prepared for our journey.”

“Working with Duncan was paramount to us being as prepared as we could have been without having actually done an ocean row. During our preparation, I felt comfortable reaching out to Duncan for random training questions and his supportive, productive and direct response always ensured our team was moving forward with confidence. I trust he will be honest and always tell you what you need to be ready to leave shore.”

“The Almanac of Ocean Rowing and a non-negotiable if you want to do well and enjoy your crossing. The knowledge Duncan imparted about everything from technique on the oars to team building to navigation was invaluable during the race – we wouldn’t have had the success we had without him. He has been there and done it (a lot) and truly understands what you are going through. On top of all that he’s a great bloke, always quick to smile and a real boost to morale throughout.”

“To Rowing Roy the ocean rower, Rowing Roy the Yorkshire gent,
he’s done the UK, the Pacific too he’s also done the Atlantic a few.
For days he drills you with his knowledge, he sups his brew with a dit or two, he’s Rowing Roy the Yorkshire gent.
If you’re not holding tight you’ve had it nipped because positive vibes equals negative splits.
Duncan Roy our rowing coach, a friend for life that’s no doubt,
he’s on the blower 24/7 and always ready to guide you over.
He’s Rowing Roy the Yorkshire gent.
”

“We worked with Duncan as soon as we knew we were taking part in the TWAC challenge as a result of multiple strong recommendations from previous ocean rowing teams.

As a team of four (eventually mixed team of three) complete novices to the sport, the prospect of acquiring a boat and taking it onto the south coast to train was a daunting one. Having Duncan Roy as our coach from the outset meant we didn’t waste valuable time and his experience on the Round Britain row prepared us perfectly for the demands and technical difficulties of training around UK waters safely.

However, it was his experience of ocean rowing crossings (Atlantic & Pacific) which made the difference. Duncan undertook all our on water training and boat set up, our specific erg training, our pre-race prep in La Gomera and our ocean rowing mental resilience preparation. His level of expertise across all these disciplines was unparalleled and his program was highly effective. Duncan was also our single point of contact during the race for all our technical issues, worries, mini-breakdowns and progress reports, having Duncan on the end of a sat phone or email allayed a lot of our anxieties and kept us competitive.

Without Duncan we would not have arrived at the start line as prepared and without his guidance and tutelage, we would not have achieved our World Record. Collaborating with Duncan was an absolute pleasure, he’s a great bloke, hugely personable, attentive to individuals needs and with a vast level of experience in ocean rowing and coaching.

The Atlantic Nomads would recommend any team participating in an ocean row to engage with Duncan at the earliest opportunity, particularly those new to the sport. Our preparation, training and ultimately the crossing was, without a doubt, enhanced and improved through the partnership and relationship we formed with Duncan.
”

“We used Duncan as our Ocean Rowing Coach for our Atlantic row and would whole heartedly recommend him to all future ocean rowers. Duncan was an exceptional coach and prepared us both physically and mentally for the race. His attention to detail and commitment to the team was unbelievable.

He kept us motivated and was a voice of reason and experience whilst mid Atlantic becoming more than just a coach; a friend and third team member”

“I have been mates with Duncan Roy for a long time now and the help/guidance he’s given to me both pre & during the row was invaluable. Getting him onboard (excuse the pun) as my ocean rowing coach was one of the best decisions I made during my campaign.

His on water training sessions are second to none, I understand people will think I’m biased but having trained with quite a few ocean rowers before Dunc he is head & shoulders above the rest. This is down to his; professionalism, enthusiasm for the subject he’s teaching & excellent ability to simplify and explain complex subjects.
Training with Dunc gave me the confidence to do my solo training rows & I knew I was 100% safe with the skills he taught me. During my 111day crossing he was always on hand to answer a question or offer advice if I was ever unsure on something.

Now I’ve just got to convince him to row the Indian Ocean with me.
”

“We thoroughly enjoyed working with Duncan, who quickly became an integral part of our crew. His enthusiasm and professionalism was only matched by his dedication to getting us fully prepared for the enormity of the challenge that lay ahead. From initial boat familiarisation, through to online sessions and ‘on-the-water’ training, Duncan focused on a clearly defined programme of activity that took us from inexperienced novices through to a well-prepared ocean-ready team. And it didn’t stop there - even after we’d left we received emails and other regular messages of support. It’s just a shame he wasn’t there to share a beer with us on our safe arrival in Antigua!”

“Duncan is highly knowledgeable and professional. He guided us through our training in the UK coastal waters as we prepared for TWAC21. This included, but not limited to, route planning which being complete novices this was invaluable in keeping us safe and gave our training structure.

His training took us through how to live on our boat, how to move efficiently around the boat, rowing technique which ultimately kept us safe on the ocean and made us competitive as an ocean rowing team.

If you’re serious about rowing an ocean then Duncan is your first port of call!”

“Duncan has been the consummate professional from day 1. His teaching style and delivery is clear and concise, he’s great with the banter and a good leader of men. We consider Duncan one of the team, soon as he arrives he fits in well, we have all learnt a considerable amount from him. Day or night Duncan always returns a call/email, I’ve certainly asked him a lot of questions and he’s always receptive and positive.
Would we use Duncan again - yes.
Would we recommend him- absolutely, 110%.”

“I met Duncan whilst training for the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge (TWAC) 2021. He coached our team, ‘The Salty Sappers’, for a weekend and it is no exaggeration to say that his input to our team was priceless. I have no doubt that we would have completed the race in a safe manner, after all we had the skills between us to confidently train around the UK coast, but we would not have been anywhere near as efficient, comfortable and confident. The amount of information that Duncan imparted in all areas cannot be overstated. Given that in ocean rowing getting the smallest details right makes a huge difference, the low down on watch changes, safety at sea, routine, navigation, equipment and much more was invaluable. For example, we owe our comfort and lack of pressure sores to Duncan’s good advice on seat covers, and safety at sea to his recommendation of safety lines.
This depth of knowledge is coupled with a good humoured, understated and thoroughly engaging instructional style. I cannot recommend Duncan highly enough to anyone contemplating an ocean rowing trip.”

“Duncan has been an integral part of our team, right the way through to the race start. The knowledge and experience he was able to bring to our campaign not only made us a stronger, more competitive team, but also a better, safer team. He’s a brilliant coach and an essential component to anyone considering an ocean row.”