The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a rowing race like no other. It is the ultimate endurance race across the world’s second largest ocean – the Atlantic.
The Atlantic Ocean was first rowed in 1896. Since then, there have been numerous epic voyages and records broken, yet more people have climbed Everest than have successfully rowed across the Atlantic.
In December 2023, approximately 30 crews will set off to row the 3,000 nautical miles to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. The fastest crews may cross within a month, but over 80 days at sea is not unheard of.
We will row non-stop, two hours on, two hours off, in a 23-foot ocean rowing boat. We will have to carry everything required for the race with us, because once we set off from La Gomera we are unlikely to see another boat or human being until our arrival in Antigua.
We will battle storms, 25-foot waves, salt sores, sleep deprivation, hunger and a lack of home comforts. In fact, we will be lacking most things – including beds and a toilet! Christmas and New Year will bring little in the way of presents and pudding, delivering us potential equipment failure, sharks, shipping lanes and capsizes instead.
However, with careful preparation, plenty of support from family and friends and team work on the crossing, we hope to make it to Antigua in record time.
Race Facts
- Each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes over a race.
- Rowers will row for 2 hours, and sleep for 2 hours, constantly, 24 hours a day.
- More people have climbed Everest than rowed an ocean.
- Over €6million has been raised for charities worldwide over the past 4 races.
- At its deepest, the Atlantic Ocean is 8.5km/5.28 miles deep.
- The waves the rowers will experience can measure up to 20ft high.
- There are two safety yachts supporting the teams as they cross the ocean. In the 2013 race, one yacht traveled a massive 9000nm!
- The 2013 winning Team Locura arrived in Antigua with a blue marlin beak pierced through the hull of the boat.
- Each rower is expected to use 800 sheets of toilet paper during their crossing.
- The teams are supported 24/7 by two land-based duty officers.
- In the 2016 race, solo rower Daryl Farmer arrived in Antigua after 96 days, rowing without a rudder to steer with for nearly 1200miles/40 days.
- Each rower needs to aim to consume 10 litres of water per day.
- Rowers burn in excess of 5,000 calories per day.
- There is no toilet on board – rowers use a bucket!
- Each rower loses on average 12kg crossing the Atlantic!
For more info click here