The challenge
‘The world’s toughest row’
The World’s Toughest Row (WTR) - Atlantic is an annual event in which teams row 3,000 miles, unassisted, across the Atlantic Ocean.
Up to 35 teams from around the world take part, departing from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands and making their way to English Habour, Antigua. The crossing can take a team of four anywhere between 29 and 74 days, spending all their time aboard a 25-ft boat.
So far, WTR Atlantic teams have raised over £5 million pounds for charity, and participants’ reasons for attempting the crossing are as varied as the individuals themselves.
“When you look into the rowers’ eyes before they are about to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, you see courage, determination, fear and bravery.”
Sleep deprivation. Salt sores. Sea sickness.
Getting to the start line is an endurance challenge in itself. To get there, the team is training, learning, organising, communicating and persuading like never before.
Once we begin our crossing, we will row in shifts, all day, every day. The waves can reach up to 20-ft high and at points, there will be over 8 km between us and the ocean bed. Some days, the weather might be so bad that we move backwards.
Our toilet will be a bucket. We will each burn over 5,000 calories and need to drink 10 litres of water each day. We will face sleep deprivation, salt sores and extreme weather conditions, and be pushed to our physical and emotional limits.
The journey of a lifetime
We will be in daily contact with the Atlantic Campaigns Safety Officer and two safety yachts will follow the fleet across the ocean. Nevertheless, the crew are spending the 2 years leading up to the start ensuring we are as prepared as possible. We will be ready to take on anything the crossing throws at us. We’ll help each other through the toughest days and make the most of the best ones.
Crossing the finish line in Antigua is set to be one of the proudest moments of our lives: the funds we will have raised for our charities; everything we have learnt during our preparations; and everything we have discovered we are capable of on the ocean.
We will have shared countless highs and lows together, and will arrive in Antigua better, stronger and more resilient women. This is how we grow.