A longtime rowing coach with a robust YouTube channel, Neil Bergenroth was accustomed to receiving emails from strangers.

But nothing like this.

In May 2023, the Holland Hall Upper School technology teacher received an intriguing email from Ireland. Rowing beginner Daragh MacLoughlin wanted to row solo 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 2025 as part of the World’s Toughest Row competition. And he needed a coach.

You read that right: A complete beginner to the sport wanted to row thousands of miles across the ocean, by himself.

After reading his email, Bergenroth chatted with MacLoughlin on Zoom for a get-to-know-you meeting and the relationship blossomed from there — the determined beginner with the veteran coach who had never worked with a client with such grandiose ambitions.

It was the beginning of a life-changing journey for both men.

With Bergenroth coaching remotely and a team overseeing nutrition, strength training and other things, MacLoughlin did more than complete the race; he won the solo division. In fact, he finished 14th overall out of 43 teams that included teams with multiple rowers in the same boat.