The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge will take the teams more than 3000 Miles west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain (28oN 18oW) to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda (17oN 61oW). The annual race begins in early December, with up to 30 teams participating from around the world.

The Atlantic Challenge brings together teams from all walks of life united by the same objective: to take on the unique challenge of crossing an ocean in a rowing boat. Teams battle with sleep deprivation, salt sores, and physical extremes inflicted by the race. Rowers are left with their own thoughts, an expanse of the ocean, and the job of getting the boat safely to the other side…

Race Facts? 

• Each team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes over a race.

• Rowers will row for 2 hours, and sleep for 2 hours, constantly, 24 hours a day.

• More people have climbed Everest than rowed an ocean.

• Over €6million has been raised for charities worldwide over the past 4 races.

• The waves the rowers will experience can measure up to 20ft high.

• There are two safety yachts supporting the teams as they cross the ocean.

• Each rower is expected to use 800 sheets of toilet paper during their crossing.

• Each rower needs to aim to consume 10 litres of water per day.

• Rowers burn in excess of 5,000 calories per day.

• There is no toilet on board – rowers use a bucket!

• Each rower loses on average 12kg crossing the Atlantic!

• In the 2018 race, solo rower Kelda Wood (Row 2 Raise) was kept company by a whale for nearly 7 days.

Hi, We are Kirsten and Helen, complete rowing novices with a thirst for adventure. We’ve always acknowledged how fundamentally important sport and activity are to our own lives and lockdown has reinforced that our own wellbeing relies on keeping active.

Kirsten loves a challenge, her love for cycling came many years ago when, before buying a bike, signed up to cycle to Paris. Since then she has gone onto pedal thousands of miles in Europe and the UK. She also takes part in a triathlon and has completed a 70.3 Ironman.

Helen has completed ultra-marathons and trekked up to Everest Base Camp in 2019. Helen’s can-do attitude will serve her well when rowing the 3000 miles across the Atlantic.

Our friendship blossomed at law school and after many years of watching each other grow professionally and personally, we feel the time is right to take some time out and embark on an adventure together which will push our mental and physical limits and be the ultimate test to our friendship.

In our professional lives, Helen and I both come across clients finding things hard emotionally. These experiences have spurred us on to support the charity ‘Manchester Mind’. Through our rowing efforts, we intend to raise funds for Manchester Mind so that fewer people will face mental health problems alone.