Row, Row, Rowing His Way Across the Atlantic

March 31, 2008 — -- When Sam Williams moored at Nelsons Dockyard Marina in Antigua last Thursday, he became one of only 35 people to ever row across the Atlantic Ocean.

"You just kind of keep on grinning and just looking over your shoulder because when you're rowing you're looking the other way and just turn around and kind of realize this massive ordeal is nearly over," Williams said of approaching his final destination in English Harbour.

The Brit and his boat, Pacific Pete, had traveled 75 days, four hours and 43 minutes since leaving La Gomeara, Canary Islands, to accomplish the task. He began the trip to bring attention to Farm Africa, the British development agency that works to reduce poverty among African farmers.

"I'd be rowing probably about 12 hours a day," said Williams, who said he rowed 55 miles on a "good day."

But in an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America," Williams said he wasn't eager to repeat the feat.

"I wouldn't do the same thing again," the 24-year-old said.

During the 3,700 mile solo odyssey, the former law firm proofreader said he felt like a prisoner in his own boat and questioned why he began such a journey.

"It was scary," he said. "A few moments I hid myself away waiting for it to be over."

He didn't have extensive rowing experience and was unsure what toll the trip would take on him.

"[It was] something I've never done before," Williams said. "I've never been particularly athletic. I felt like going out and trying to do something that was a real challenge. It was a complete unknown; the mental challenge and physical challenge. I prepared for it as best I could."

When Williams set sail he had little to keep himself entertained, other than dreaming of actress Liv Tyler and relying heavily on his iPod.

"I listened to music constantly, my only form of relaxation," Williams said, adding that he also brought along a waterproof radio in the form of a rubber ducky.

"I had a water kit that converts sea water into fresh water and took huge amounts of rice and couscous," he said.

Williams used a camera to document his journey.

His film captured dolphins swimming around his boat.

"I swam with them," he said. "It was more like paddled around a bit but that was an experience not many people get."

One time Williams even saw whales. But his biggest fear wasn't the animals; it was the waves.

"You're constantly getting hit by waves," said Williams, whose 23-foot-long boat never capsized. "The weather was unhelpful and pretty bad storms, which just engulfed the boat with waves. And it was quite scary at times."

It was difficult for him to sleep.

"I'd be waking up every hour to check my position, but when you're not rowing you can go anywhere," he said. "I nearly got pushed too far south and didn't make it to Antigua."

If he got into trouble, Williams said he did have a way for rescuers to find him. "It would have been tough," he said. "I had a location beacon. I'd set it off and coordinate a rescue boat and [they'd] send off the nearest boat to you."

He also had navigation equipment protecting him from larger ships by letting him know when they were too close. "They came to within half a mile and I got them on the radio and just managed to avoid them," Williams said.

When he finally got to land, among the first things he had were rum punch, champagne and apple crumble pie, which caused him to faint.

He really craved that kind of fruity flavor at sea and just wanted to do nothing for a while.

Williams' journey so far has raised $20,000 of his $40,000 goal.

Click here for more information about Williams' journey and to learn how to link up to Farm Africa.