In January 2025 myself & my 3 team mates are competing in the Atlantic Dash, a 3200 mile row from Lanzarote to Antigua.

We will be rowing for 2 hours then resting for 2 hours constantly, 24 hours a day for hopefully under 8 weeks.

During the 2hrs off we will need to cook, clean ourselves & the boat, hydrate & eat our specialised calorific food, communicate with each other & the outside world, carry out maintenance checks & any repairs and get some much-needed sleep!

Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is an incredibly challenging and dangerous endeavour.

**Severe Weather**: The Atlantic Ocean is notorious for unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, including storms, high winds, and large waves(up to 20ft high at times!) that can capsize boats.

**Physical Exertion**: Rowing for such long distances requires immense physical stamina. Rowers often face exhaustion, dehydration, and muscle injuries.

**Isolation**: Being far from land means ZERO access to immediate help. We are rowing completely unsupported! If an emergency occurs, it could take a long time for any (hopefully) nearby help to reach the rowers.

**Navigation Hazards**: The ocean is vast; The Atlantic Ocean is 41million square miles & contributes 24% of the entire Earths water surface so navigating can be tricky. Rowers must avoid shipping lanes and natural obstacles. (In the dark this is only exuberated!)

**Mental Strain**: The isolation and constant effort can take a toll on mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and even hallucinations & lucid dreams!

**Supply Shortages**: We will take every single item we need for the entire journey. There’s no turning back if we forget our wipes! Managing food, medical, water & emergency supplies is crucial. Any miscalculation or spoilage can lead to shortages.

**Marine Life**: Encounters with marine animals, while rare, can be dangerous. Sharks, jellyfish, and other sea creatures pose potential threats; not only us but the boat too which is our only life support system from the moment we leave Lanzarote till we touch down in Antigua.

I am raising money and awareness for Shark Trust

Sharks and rays are some of the ocean's most amazing animals. Present in our seas for 400 million years, they are vital and valuable but also vulnerable. Around a 1/3 of all shark, skate, ray and chimaera species are considered threatened with extinction, largely due to the impact of unsustainable fisheries. The Shark Trust works globally to ensure endangered species of sharks are suitably protected, while also pushing for science-based fisheries management for all species to ensure long term sustainability.

I think it must have been Thor Heyerdahl who put the wheels (oars) in motion for me when I read about the Kon Tiki expedition as a school boy. It wasn’t the Atlantic but it just sounded like the greatest adventure which is something that has stayed with me all these years

I used to do a considerable amount of rowing when I was a boy; it was only a small boat but it got me out to sea when health & safety wasn’t really much of a thing. I was a national school boy swimming champion many, many years ago and it’s clearly a skill I hope I won’t need to call upon mid-Atlantic!

I’m what you might call a ‘sharkologist’ as I’ve been supporting sharks for decades and I’m delighted to be supporting the Shark Trust with this expedition.