It began with him in partnership with Sam Lynch attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean and it could end with the man from Kilworth near Fermoy winning his second World Championship gold and laying down a marker for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The championships start today in Eton and the Irish lightweight four are favourites to win. The crew of Paul Griffin, Richard Archibald, Eugene Coakley and Towey won the World Cup this season, raced over three legs with the Irish winning two of the races.

Towey is actually the newcomer to the boat, replacing the injured Tim Harnedy in the crew that won silver at last year's championships in Japan. The 28-year-old has plenty of experience, he's been rowing for Ireland since 1996, won medals at all levels and Beijing could be his fourth Olympic games (he was a reserve in Atlanta).

But it's more likely that you will remember him for what happened to him and Sam Lynch off the coast of Bermuda in January of this year. Forty days into their attempt to cross the Atlantic, they were struck by a freak wave, overturning their craft.

The duo scrambled into their life raft and were fortunate that a passing tanker picked up their distress signal.

"We did get a fright. We were nearly finished there when that happens you wouldn't be too keen to do it again. But at the same time I wouldn't rule it out. In many ways it was brilliant but we didn't get across and that's what we wanted to do."

Shaken by the experience and exhausted, Towey took time off from rowing, undecided if he would come back to the sport. "I took the guts of a month off after I came back; I was wrecked in every way, mentally and physically.

I wasn't sure at one stage even if I would come back rowing or not because I was just really tired and had enough of it."

National coach Harald Jahrling encouraged him to return. He began training again and found himself moving up the national rankings in the trials during the year.

"When that happens you can't ignore it, whenever you can come into good form you have to go in with it. And I can't explain the good form I've had all year because in reality I should be wrecked and just sleeping all the time.

Ultimately, I think that mentally and physically the Atlantic Challenge was good for me.

"It's been a huge benefit for my rowing. I line up for a race and I know it's going to be six minutes of gut-wrenching pain and stress, but it's only going to be six minutes.

I can have a shower and meal afterwards and just forget about it. And you can leave the boat after the race."

Towey juggles rowing with his studies in Trinity College and the intense training rowers endure can be tough at times. The World Championships every year give a focus for all the effort.

"I need a race to give me motivation for training. I personally don't like training, I just like racing, " he admits.

Longer term the aim for Towey and the rest of the Irish squad are the Beijing Olympics in two years time, the Fermoy man having almost walked away from the sport after the disappointment of finishing 10th at the last games. For now Towey and company face the challenge of World Champions France and Germany, the only crew to beat them this year. Even after the scare in the Atlantic it's a case of quickly going backwards to go forward for Towey.

WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS Eton, England, 20. . .27 August Live Eurosport, from Thursday, 24 August, various times Live BBC2, Saturday, 12.00; BBC 1, 1.05