World’s Toughest Row
Atlantic Crossing
China Fleet Country Club, Saltash, Cornwall, hosted a special unveiling and blessing of a new boat ahead of an Atlantic crossing later this year for charity.
The HMS OARDACIOUS rowing team will be rowing the Atlantic in the new boat ‘Captain Jim’ to raise funds and awareness of mental health and wellbeing. The name of the boat ‘Captain Jim’ is in memory of the late Capt. Jim Simpson RN whose family members attended the unveiling event.
The special launch event for fundraisers HMS OARDACIOUS, held at China Fleet on 14th July, included the Minister of Veteran affairs the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer, military, veterans, families, civil servants, industry partners, sponsors and volunteers.
Also in attendance was the 3-time Olympic rowing gold medallist and Honorary Royal Navy Captain, Pete Reed OBE, who gave an inspirational talk on resilience and adventure to the assembled guests, which will live long in the memory.
HMS OARDACIOUS
HMS OARDACIOUS was established in 2019 to provide Mental Health and Wellbeing support to the Submarine Community.
Later this year, the rowing team will take on the World’s toughest row, and the premier event in Ocean Rowing – a challenge that takes competitors more than 3000 miles west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua.
The Annual Race begins in early December with up to 30 teams participating from across the globe. The Talisker Whisky 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.
Earlier this summer the Prince of Wales joined the team of Royal Navy submariners for Mental Health Week.
For more information or to donate, please see HMS Oardacious.
The China Fleet Trust and Club are proud to be one of HMS OARDACIOUS latest official sponsors, in 2020, the rowing team became the fastest military team in history to row across the Atlantic Ocean raising over £150,000 for Mental Health and Wellbeing support for Royal Navy personnel and their families.
Thank you to the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP for joining us and saying a few words reflecting on the sacrifice made by the families of service personnel.
We are so pleased to be sponsoring HMS OARDACIOUS this year. We cannot wait to follow their staggering Atlantic Challenge in December and we are thoroughly inspired by the team’s determination and dedication. We wish them all every success.
fastest military team in history
In January 2020, four Royal Navy Submariners became the first ever Royal Navy team, and the fastest military team in history to row across the Atlantic Ocean spending 37 days, 6 hours and 40 minutes battling 3,000 miles across the North Atlantic to reach Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua.
That first crossing was the start of a legacy that will see Royal Navy personnel champion resilience through adversity, support charities, inspire the public and collaborate with even more fantastic organisations. But our campaign has always been about more than rowing oceans – we continue to champion and fundraise for the wellbeing, mental health of all Royal Navy personnel, serving and retired, and their families.
We repeated our success in the 2022 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, getting across in 35 days, 17 hours and 19 minutes and we are proud to announce that we are ready to continue the HMS Oardacious mission into 2023 and beyond.
We cannot wait to share this adventure and legacy with you all once again,
Yours aye,
The HMS Oardacious Campaign Team
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
The World’s toughest row, and the premier event in Ocean Rowing – a challenge that takes competitors more than 3000 miles west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua.
The Annual Race begins in early December with up to 30 teams participating from across the globe. The Talisker Whisky 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.
The atmosphere is electric as people help each other prepare for the challenge of the mighty Atlantic Ocean. 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.
