His day job is helping to run one of Norfolk’s most popular estates.

But for over 40 days James Bracey turned into an "oarsome" rower as he battled his way across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Holkham Estate employee and three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton, took on the World’s Toughest Row race series by rowing 3,000 miles across the ocean.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

The friends, who met while in the army, rowed 24 hours a day for over five weeks and completed the epic odyssey in 41 days, six hours, and 44 minutes.

Mr Bracey said: “We enjoy team sports and felt this was the closest thing we could do to being a team again.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

“We wanted to do something out of our comfort zone, and something big enough to raise a decent amount of money, so this is where we ended up.”

The group, who signed up two and a half years ago, rowed over 1.5 million strokes, burned 5,000 calories a day, and faced waves up to 30 feet high.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

“We did two hours on and two hours off, the boat was always moving with two rowing and two resting,” he said.

"I say resting, you were navigating, cleaning yourself or the boat, prepping food, we always had people on the oars for the 41 days.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

“The biggest challenge was the routine, staying awake for 41 days, you sleep through exhaustion in short bursts for less than two hours.

“The days were incredibly hot, so the best rowing was at night, when cooler and there was more to see.

"We witnessed every star, satellite, comet and lots of flying fish through these dark wide skies.”

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

The team left San Sebastián de La Gomera in the Canary Islands and finished in Antigua on January 23.

“Hitting the finish line, reaching it was exciting and slightly overwhelming,” Mr Bracey added.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

“The enormity of the challenge hit us, you cannot be picked up by air rescue after 350 miles.

"If there was an issue, we would be dependent on other boats to pick us up.”

They used a 28-foot rowing boat specially designed for ocean voyages, the Rannoch 45.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

Mr Bracey is planning to speak more on his epic journey at an event at Gordon Barrett Memorial Hall in Wells on March 14, with ticket sales raising money for the Royal British Legion branch.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Last December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticLast December, James Bracey, along with three friends, John Solosy, Richard Janes, and John Ashton took on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)

Fakenham & Wells Times: James Bracey before and after taking on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the AtlanticJames Bracey before and after taking on the World’s Toughest Row, travelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic (Image: WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW)