Since our last roundup, the hurricane season has subsided, and action has resumed on the oceans. The annual World’s Toughest Row has started, and one independent soloist is attempting to cross the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Dave Bell is taking on what could be the longest ever single-stage row in the Pacific.
Atlantic Ocean
World’s Toughest Row: The 2025 World’s Toughest Row, previously known as the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, started on December 14. Forty-three teams and 114 rowers pushed off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. Over the coming weeks, they will battle 4,828km across the Atlantic to Antigua.
Initially, the race was scheduled to start on December 11, but after a Yellow Wind Warning was issued, the organizers had to delay.
“In these conditions, we cannot deliver a safe, controlled departure,” they commented. “While some crews may be able to manage stronger weather, start decisions must be right for the entire fleet.”
So far, the crews have faced the same challenges that every ocean rower confronts on their first few days. Seasickness has been common, and fatigue is setting in as they all adjust to the two-hour on, two-hour off schedule. Pulling away from the coastline in windy conditions has been a struggle. However, nearly all the updates from the crews have been positive.
Four down to three
The four-person “Scotland the Wave” crew has had the hardest start. Yesterday, they were instructed to seek emergency help for one crew member who had been struggling with illness since the start of the row. Andrena McShane-Kerr has now been removed from the boat, and the three remaining women on the team have decided to continue as a trio. They are now doing their best to catch up with other boats.
Race positions so far. Image: YB Tracking/World’s Toughest Row
Race statistics so far:
Leading: 44West
Leading four: 44West
Leading trio: Southsea Scullers
Leading pair: Stelantic
Leading soloist: The Jasper
Rebecca Ferry (UK): Rebecca Ferry is solo rowing across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Barbados. After three days, she has covered just over 300km of the 4,911km route. She is taking a more southerly route to take advantage of favorable currents and to avoid the low-pressure systems that may occur in the North Atlantic.
Ferry has shared very little about her journey, but her tracker provides daily updates on her position. Her biggest challenge so far has been the autopilot, which stopped working yesterday due to problems with the fuse. Luckily, she brought many spares with her, and after replacing the fuse, the autopilot is functioning again.
Pacific Ocean
Dave Bell (UK): After solo rowing 5,000km from New York to Britain in 2021, Dave Bell has decided to attempt a mammoth 25,000km row across both the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Bell’s progress so far. Image: YB Tracking/Dave Bell
He began on November 9 from Peru and will first row to Australia. He then hopes to continue through the Torres Strait, a notoriously difficult stretch of water, around the top of Australia, and into the Indian Ocean.
From here, he will head to Mauritius. With 330 days of food on his boat, he does not plan to stop or receive support at any point. If successful, it will be the longest ever single-stage unsupported row.
He has given no updates since starting, but his tracker indicates that he has covered about 3,600km.
