Two solo rowers from Argyll are racing across the Atlantic over the next two months to raise money for sea-life charities and prove the feat can be achieved while suffering from arthritis.
The World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic 2023 brings together 39 teams from across the globe – For Better Oar Worse, HMS Oardacious, Seas the Moments, and There She Rows, competing to row thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
After months of preparation, the endurance race finally set off from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, on December 12 bound for Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda.
“Sleep deprivation, hallucinations, hunger and the ultimate test of body and mind will be balanced by sighting incredible marine life, witnessing the breaking of a new day and sunsets that cannot be viewed from land,” the organisers said.
“The mental and physical endurance will result in a life-changing achievement that will never be forgotten.”
Among this year’s solo rowers are two linked to Argyll. One, going under the name Atlantic Rowmad, is 67-year-old Jamie Howard, who now lives in Edinburgh but grew up on the Isles of Gometra and Ulva.
He said: “I have decided to row solo as I don’t feel I can put anyone through the stress of being cooped up in a small boat with me for two months or so. The sea has played a huge role in my life having been brought up and lived most of my life on the two small islands of Gometra and Ulva.
“My father taught me to row shortly after I learned to walk, or so it seemed. The sea, in those days, was brimming with fish and wildlife. I have vivid memories of pods of Orcas, leaping dolphins, and friendly porpoises. Sadly, there has been a huge degradation in the bio-diversity of our seas and oceans since those days of plenty and that makes me very sad.
“I have therefore decided to try to do something to raise awareness, and funds, for not only the marine charity, Openseas.org, but also NASS (National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society). I currently suffer from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a chronic arthritic condition, which in my case has resulted in fusing in my neck and lower spine.
“However, this does not stop me from enjoying my passions of ski-mountaineering, long-distance walking, scuba diving and, of course, boating. I now want to prove to myself and others that it is possible to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic with AS.
“I cannot wait to get out onto the Atlantic Ocean, help these two charities, and be an inspiration to my gorgeous grandchildren, and our future.”
A second is Henry Cheape, a 43-year-old entrepreneur behind the Fife farm shop Balgove Larder, who is aiming to raise £250,000 to highlight critical sustainability issues.
Henry, rowing aboard the PollyAnne, said his “love and respect for the sea” came from the Isle of Mull. Henry’s family have been part of the history of Mull since the mid 1800’s, his team explained. His father was born on Mull, and they still have family who live there and he has spent “every possible moment of downtime in the last 40 years” at their cottage there.
He said: “Our chosen charities work to improve the relationship between humans and our environment – I would like to think that when my time is up, the tide will have turned, and planet Earth will have a brighter future for the generations yet to come.”
The charities are Global Canopy, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, and Nomad Conservation Fund.
To prepare for the arduous voyage, Henry and his team developed specialised recipes, designed to sustain the rigorous challenge with a calorie count just under 6,000 Kcal per day. The provisions must last Henry between 10 weeks – 70 days – and 12 weeks, or a full 85 days. Sophisticated support systems aboard the vessel include a water maker and a small cabin dedicated to storing the food supply.
You can follow their progress, and find their social media pages for donations, at www.worldstoughestrow.com