The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
2021
In December 2021 we will be joining crews from all over the world to
compete in the premier event in ocean rowing. The Talisker Whisky
Atlantic Challenge will see us row over
3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from
San Sebastian in La Gomera to Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua & Barbuda. We
will battle with sleep deprivation, salt sores, and physical extremes
inflicted by the race. Left with just our own thoughts, an expanse of
the ocean and the job of getting the boat safely to the other side.
Some facts about the row:
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Each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes over a race.
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Rowers will row for 2 hours, and sleep for 2 hours, constantly, 24
hours a day, for as long as it takes.
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Over €6million has been raised for charities worldwide over the past 4
races.
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At its deepest, the Atlantic Ocean is
8.5 km/5.28 miles deep.
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The waves the rowers will experience can measure up to 20 ft high.
- Each rower needs to aim to consume 10 litres of water per day.
- Rowers burn in excess of 5,000 calories per day.
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Each rower loses on average 12 kg crossing the
Atlantic!
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The female pair world record is 50 days, 5 hours and 53 minutes -
currently.
Tideway Odyssey plans to break that record (weather
allowing).
Tideway Odyssey
We are two women on a mission to see just how far we can push ourselves
while supporting our incredible charities. We only knew each other for
six months before deciding to undertake this adventure together.
Saf. I am a major in the British Army. I learnt to row
many years ago, but only got back into it in summer 2018 which is when I
met VC.
VC. VC comes from a rowing legacy:
born a year after her grandfather coached the GB women’s team to medal
at the ’84 Olympics, she has been in a boat almost from birth.
Our Charities
We are raising funds and awareness for three charities. Though very
different, they are all fantastic and help people in different ways.
London Youth Rowing. LYR recognises all the benefits of
the sport: physical health, mental health and life skills. It was an
easy choice to have LYR as our primary charity so that more children can
access the sport, children who wouldn’t necessarily think that they can.
Fawcett Society. The Fawcett Society campaigns for
gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life.
The Fawcett Society is currently running a project on the life-limiting
impact of gender stereotypes and how we can move to end them. As women
in male-dominated worlds (military and finance), we want to smash female
stereotypes at work and through the row. Further, I have seen at work
the negative impact that the “boys need to big and brave” has on boys
and men; that the charity's research not only is to promote women and
girls but also helps men and boys is fantastic.
CdLS - Hope for Hasti. Set up by a fellow army officer,
Hope for Hasti is raising funds to pay for vital research to develop a
gene therapy and conduct clinical trials so that children with CdLS,
both now and in the future, can enjoy healthier lives.