OCEAN ROWING – DURING THE CHALLENGE

Force Genesis ,image courtesy of Atlantic Campaigns

Crews take weeks or months to successfully complete the arduous 3000mile journey as part of the The Worlds Toughest Row, docking in Antigua after setting off from the Canary Islands on 12 December. The shared stories of their life at sea over these many weeks are fascinating, not all of it pretty!

Some of the field are still living this life, being tested mentally, physically and emotionally hour after hour. It is what makes the Worlds Toughest Row , well, the world’s toughest row! We have helped to prepare more crews for the challenge than any other water sports training centre in the world, helping over 60% of all participants since 2013 achieve a lifetime goal. We know what it takes.

To follow up our last blog on what is required BEFORE rowing the Atlantic, here we give you an insight into what happens DURING an attempt to row the Atlantic. Warning – it is not for the faint hearted!

NAKED AMBITION

Of course, water, food and clothes are the essentials. But it needs to be effective and efficient. Each rower should aim to consume 10 litres of water per day. They do this not by carrying masses of bottle water, but by using solar-powered water makers which desalinate sea water. This essential device includes a hand pump for back up in case of power failure. Power is a valuable commodity- it is produced on board via solar panels so in cloudy conditions it can be in short supply.

Ocean rowers burn more than 5,000 calories per day, so this means four meals per day for up to 90 days – depending upon the team size and projected finish. The bulk of this will be nutrient-rich, lightweight, freeze-dried meals with a minimum of 20% shall be emergency wet rations, (e.g., tinned food) which are ready to eat meals. It is essential to take high calorie snacks and chocolate. Ordinary treats from normal life are worth looking forward to in an arduous day.  In terms of clothing, foul weather gear is essential. Other than that, it is all about minimalism, pack very light. Fashion is soooo dry land! Many rowers choose to row naked a lot of the time. In one instance, four mums in a boat only took one pair of knickers each!  

Freeze Dried Food

POO AND POLLUTION

There is no toilet on board each boat. The mantra is “bucket and chuck it!” Of course, keeping clean is extremely important; a swim in the sea is refreshing, but the salt can cause sores when in the wrong places. So, washing is done with wet wipes which can then be reused for bottom wiping. Care must be taken with re-using wet wipes to avoid any cross-contamination issues. Each rower is expected to use 800 sheets of toilet paper during their crossing. All rubbish must be stowed on board (including wet wipes and loo roll) to be inspected by the scrutineers on arrival in Antigua. Polluting the ocean is not accepted by race organisers.

skin protection

The exposure to the elements is extreme and the physical impact on the body is unavoidable. Despite the high calorie intake, each rower loses an average of 12kg crossing the Atlantic. But rowers can at least protect their skin and need to pack up to three months’ worth of sun cream for protection.

HELL AND HIGH WATER

The boats used are unique crafts built specifically for the unique task in hand. Like any sea-worthy vessel, ocean rowing boats are designed to stay upright as much as possible. But also, to quickly self-right should they get flipped. Modern ocean rowing boats therefore include several bespoke features. This includes a low centre of gravity due to a heavy ballast at the bottom of the boat - usually a large volume of fresh water. The deck and cabins are completely sealed to avoid swamping or water getting inside the holds. They maintain buoyancy through the large air-filled cabins on top of the boat. Boats are made from many small compartments, so a single hole will not cause the whole boat to fill with water. In 2021 there were a staggering 4 Marlin strikes, with some boats arriving with a blue marlin beak still pierced through the hull of the boat. 

FORTY WINKS ON THE WAVES

Ocean rowing boats have cabins to sleep, sealed shut from the elements, usually at the back of the boat. This is where rowers will hide in bad weather and get whatever down time there is to be had. They are not spacious and can be tough to relax in, in choppy seas. But, when tiredness descends, rowers adapt! Shift patterns are normal for groups at sea. As such, sleep tends to be in short bursts of a few hours at a time. Rowing solo or on a less arduous itinerary, there may be times when rowers follow a more normal sleep and awake routine, rowing during the day and sleeping at night. Other times, this may be far from the case. Rowers may need to row for long, unearthly hours or simply not be able to sleep through the fear and discomfort of an angry sea tossing the boat about. 

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the world’s most challenging and vast environments to travers. Rowers are facing a 3000 mile journey over a body of water reaching up to 8.5k depth. Rowers will experience waves that can measure up to 20ft high. In all, each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes over a race. Teams will decide on a rowing pattern that suits them. Many teams operate on a strict 24 hour schedule of row for 2 hours and rest for 2 hours - rest time also includes time to eat, wash and do any boat maintenance. It’s a grueling relentless, repetitive routine. The number in the team and their personal goals are also determining factors as are the conditions. Obviously, a solo rower will have a very different routine than a team of four. 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.  There are two safety yachts supporting the teams as they cross the ocean. In the 2013 race, one yacht travelled a massive 9000 nautical miles! The teams are also supported 24/7 by two land-based duty officers. 

SeaSports Southwest are the only training centre to be endorsed by Atlantic Campaigns, race organisers of Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge. We can take care of your on-shore training for a safe and successful journey across the ocean https://www.seasports-sw.com/ocean-rowing

Feeling curious, get in touch with Sue or Tim at SeaSports Southwest!

TEL:01626 772555 - EMAIL:INFO@SEASPORTS-SW.COM