Atlantic Challenge Competitors Given Send Off

On Wednesday (9th November) at St Katharine’s Dock London  9 teams from around the UK were  given a send-off ahead of their departure to the Spanish port of San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Following in the wake of Ben Fogle and James Cracknell who competed in the race in 2005, 17 teams are participating, with boats from all over the globe. There are two solo rowers, and then fifteen two, four or six person crews.

Including the Row2Recovery team; 4 soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan who are taking part to raise money to help wounded servicemen and women.

There is an all female team RowForFreedom who are taking part to raise awareness of modern slavery. There is also a husband and wife crew and a seniors’ team.

Each participant in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge represents an inspiring story of passion, confidence challenge and achievement. (IVs available)

The race is 2,549 nautical miles (2,933 regular miles), starting on the 4th December in the Spanish port of San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands and follows the ‘Columbus Route’. West bound across the mid-Atlantic to Port St Charles in Barbados.

Competitors are expected to arrive in the Caribbean from mid-January onwards, although not all teams succeed in finishing the crossing.