The World’s Toughest row is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) Transatlantic race from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean. Rowers from all over the world assemble to spend anywhere between one and three months on the ocean. All ocean rowers will face waves over 40 feet high, salt sores, sleep deprivation, sea sickness and sweltering tropical heat.
It is a fantastic adventure that few humans have undertaken (more people have climbed Mount Everest than rowed across an ocean). It sees rowers push the boundaries of human endurance, testing themselves both physically and psychologically in one of the most dangerous and challenging environments on the planet.
The Royal Navy has an ocean rowing organization called "HMS Oardacious" which has successfully rowed across the ocean three times. On the 12th of December 2024, their 4th Ocean crossing will start. This year, we are competing with a Women’s Royal Navy crew known as “The Valkyries” who will race against 37 other extraordinary teams.
HMS Oardacious and other teams will row across the Atlantic in purpose-built ocean rowing boats. The boat is 28 feet (7 meters) long and is designed with a small cabin at the bow (the front) and stern (the back) where the crew can rest when they are not rowing.
