While most of us are in the final days of Christmas planning and looking forward to a festive break packed with food, refreshment and relaxations, two Devon-based teams are currently rowing through the waves of the Atlantic.
The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge is into its second week, with competitors departing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands for the incredible mission of rowing over 3,000 miles to their final destination in Antigua & Barbuda.
From the 43 teams embarking on this epic adventure, two crews are based in Exmouth and have been training out of Exmouth Marina for two years, undergoing a brutal preparation programme in their objective to reach the starting line and raise money for their chosen charities.
‘The FriendShip’ comprises four brothers, two sets of twins (Jack Friend, Hamish Friend, Arthur Friend and Euan Friend). If successful, they would be the first set of four brothers to row any ocean.
Before departure, they said: “Growing up together in the green hills of Devon, adventure has come naturally, as has the competitive need to push each other further, faster and higher.
“Now older and following different career and personal paths, this challenge is our opportunity to restrengthen the bonds of brotherhood and raise money and awareness for causes close to our hearts.”
The FriendShip are raising money for the Drive Forward Foundation, Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda and CHAT.
Also racing through the Atlantic waves is the ‘Full Throttle’ team. Daisy Lucker, Aileen McCann, Jessica Rowe and Corrine Amos
The quartet have also used Exmouth as a training base and they comprise members who have given up the blissful quiet life of Devon for a challenge that can take anywhere between 30 and 90 days.
The women who make up this adventure share a common desire to raise money for World Vision – Ukraine, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Maggies Cancer Care and Great Ormond Street Hospital. All the while, rowing two hours on, two hours off, around the clock.
Nine days into the challenge, crews have already reported incredible dolphin and whale sightings, while also acclimatising to a life at sea. It is an unbelievable quest and, from the comfort of our warm Christmas homes, we wish these inspirational teams the very best of luck.
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