Our original plan was to take part in the Woodvale Challenge Atlantic Rowing Race 2011. This is an event organised every two years which sees around thirty boats attempt an Atlantic crossing from La Gomera in the Canary Isles to Port St Charles Marina in Barbados (2549 nautical miles or 2933 statute miles as the crow flies). The fleet of boats that enter the race are comprised of solo rowers, pairs and fours boats, plus the occasional “out of class” crew. In the 2009 race, for example, a 12-man crew set out to try and break the outright Atlantic crossing world record. While the fleet set off at the same time, after roughly 100 miles it has dispersed enough so that individual boats don’t see one another for the duration of the voyage. Woodvale (owned and run by celebrated ocean rower Simon Chalk) provides two support yachts that sail with the fleet in case of emergency, but are only ever seen if required.

As the project progressed, we realised that we wouldn’t have enough time to thoroughly test our boat before it had to be shipped to the Canary Isles for the start of the race. Given the entirely custom design of our boat, it’s vital that the capabilities and limitations of the vessel are proven and known before we head out in to the vast expanse of the Atlantic. So we’ve rescheduled our crossing, which will now take place at the end of 2012 or, more likely, early 2013. A number of different trans-Atlantic routes are being considered, with the current favourite being a North Atlantic route from New York to Penzance in Cornwall – the route of the very first trans-Atlantic rowing crossing.