2026 Race Entrants

After a long battle with mental health in my early adulthood.  I’ve always been drawn to endurance sports.  As an avid ultra runner, I love the feeling of pushing my limits past where I could ever imagine.  When I stumbled upon this challenge I didn’t hesitate for a second.  I knew it was something that I needed to do.

I spent years being my own worst enemy and I’m happy to constantly prove to myself and those around me, that it couldn’t be further from the truth now.

Why am I Rowing – Rowing the Atlantic has been on my bucket list for possibly over 15 years, I have enjoyed falling the race, and more so over the last 4 years where I have been lucky to follow 3 close friends do it, back in 2019 I flew out to see the finish of their race and as I stood on the dock in Antigua I vowed the next time I stand on the same dock will be after I have rowed in! So now it’s my turn so why not do it Solo!

My Chosen Charity – I have chosen Motor Neurone Disease Association as the charity to raise money and more awareness of what they are doing supporting people and families affected by MND, which I am seeing first hand with a close friend fighting the disease presently.

I’ve always been intrigued by what it is like to be out on the open ocean, having grown up with my dad’s stories from his row in 2003. I decided to bite the bullet and sign up to feed my interest in doing a challenge of this scale. I have always loved the idea of striking out alone and putting myself into a situation entirely out of my comfort zone, so felt I couldn’t go much further than signing up to row 3000 miles on my own. To be able to feed my ambitions, whilst raising money for a couple of causes that are important to me in different ways was a complete no-brainer and almost a calling that I could not ignore the opportunity to pursue. 

Why indeed! After successfully finishing the WTR Atlantic in January 2021 with the Atlantic Dutchesses, a deep ocean longing stayed in my system. A failed attempt to participate in the WTR-Pacific in 2024 made the longing even more as the energy was still there to go, GO! During the crossing in 2020-2021 I sometimes thought; would I dare to do this alone? The answer was yes, and yes again. So why not? I know I’m capable, having endured hardship in many ways. Enough stamina for all the oceans, but the adventure to go solo will last for a lifetime.

And here is the real answer to the why. Having suffered from cancer and especially the treatments, it made me realize how powerful the body and mind are. It made me stronger and actually, without this period I couldn’t and wouldn’t have crossed any ocean at all. I’ll never be thankful for having had cancer, but it brought me a deep gratitude for life and all its possibilities. I chose the World Cancer Research Fund as they support research that explores the relationship between healthy choices in diet and lifestyle and the reduction of risk to get any kind of cancer. We can’t control everything that happens to us, but we do have a choice in how we deal with it. So I’ll do what I love best to support this message and help the World Cancer Research Fund continue their good work.

Karyna supported Ben when he thrust the family into the insanity of the race in 2019 as team Row4Hope made their journey in 2021. Now, with adult children flying the coop, she’s keen to see what this race is about! She and Ben will row as a pairs team and look forward to seeing all that the race has to offer, not only the intense sleep deprivation, sea sickness, and endless rowing for weeks, around the clock, but the serenity and solitude of sunsets, sunrises and moonlit nights. Here’s to the insanity, chaos, danger, and beauty of it all!

Rowing the Atlantic Ocean became a goal in recent years, we have both had a very adventurous childhoods which has followed us into adulthood. You only live once, so live it to the full and try everything! Hence why we chose our name “One Row, Live It”. A spark of adventure appeared when we made the decision to attempt such a challenge, and the best thing is we can help raise vital funds for charities whilst taking on this epic journey. 

We have chosen two charities – 

1. Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
2. Alzheimer’s Research UK

Why we have chosen the RNLI…

… Living in the United Kingdom of Great Britain or in the Republic of Ireland, it’s impossible to not end up by the coast, the RNLI is a charity which everyone may need to use at some point in their life, hopefully never! The RNLI completely relies on donations from the public to help provide their amazing selfless crews with valuable equipment which helps them to save all walks of life. We choose the RNLI because no matter your age, sex, race, religion, nationality or even species (our beloved pets), this wonderful charity will always answer your call for help and it is important to support those who have saved over 140,000 lives since 1824! 

Why we have chosen Alzheimer’s Research UK…

… We believe in living your life to the very best, to venture on those adventures, taking those chances and most importantly, making those treasured memories along the way. Alzheimer’s Disease affects around 6 in every 10 people with dementia in the UK, a huge percentage! And this disease can affect anyone of any age. What a terrible thing, to live the most amazing life, only to forget it. And those you love so dearly have to watch this horrid disease take over. This is why we have chosen Alzheimer’s Research UK, they are a charity with one goal, to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. They currently have discovered a new drug which can help dramatically slow down the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and is currently in the trail stages.

David and Shelley are inspired by the challenge of the race – both mental and physical – and are determined to succeed in joining the small group of adventurers who have rowed the Atlantic Ocean.

 They currently spend most of their time aboard their yacht in Western Australia and are not only rowing the Atlantic in 2026, but also plan to sail a lap around Australia in 2025.

While David has been rowing since he was young and was a ‘Super Vets World Gig Rowing Champion’, Shelley is relatively new to the sport but has had dreams of rowing across oceans for years. 

Their shared love of the ocean and great sense of adventure, means that these challenges are sure to be only the start of their exciting journey!

 “If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it.”

As a pair, and as individuals, we both love the sanctity of endurance challenges. The purity of experiencing you against you, and of man working intimately with mother nature is something we are both lucky enough to have experienced before, and always cherished. In today’s frantic, always-connected world, being in the moment of a singleminded focus, of getting from A to B, is a genuine privilege. And experiencing it with a life-long friend, to share the memories with, makes this challenge something to treasure.

Sadly we both have direct experience of the impact of men being unable to talk about their mental health. That suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK is both shocking and unacceptable. LooseHeadz is a charity focused on ending the stigma associated with mental health, and encouraging people to talk about how they are feeling. Their affiliation with the rugby community makes them a natural and obvious charity to get fully behind.

Two lifelong friends always looking for adventure decided to make a team to take on the world’s toughest row to raise money to make the world a better place through the prevention and fight against human trafficking and sex slavery. Grant Miller is the team’s true endurance athlete and first mate. Grant is a business owner, avid runner, and adventurer who jumped at the idea of pushing his limits and facing a new challenge while having fun and making memories. Our Captain Keith Shannon is an average guy who has big dreams. Keith’s desire to change the world for the better led the team to the idea and where they are today.

We are the Coastal Commanders, a team of three airline captains who have worked together in the most challenging environments. Our unwavering determination and commitment to success drive us to exchange the Boeing 737 for an ocean rowing boat and take on the World’s Toughest Row head-on.

Initially, Jon and Scott started planning to form a team, but in 2022, Martin joined the discussion, and that’s when we truly became the Coastal Commanders. As aviation captains, we have the essential skills, knowledge, and expertise required to accomplish a successful campaign. Safety is our top priority, and we frequently utilise critical thinking to solve day-to-day problems. We are dynamic, confident, and possess excellent communication skills, always with a smile on our faces!

Our ultimate goal is to complete the crossing successfully, set a new world record, and raise significant funds for our chosen charities. With our skills, experience, and unbeatable spirit, we do not doubt that we will achieve this goal.

We are 3 grannies from the Netherlands. We have rowed many kilometers together and the World’s Toughest Row has been beckoning for years. It’s a desire to do something far outside our comfort zone with teammates we trust implicitly. We look forward to going back to basics, getting to know ourselves and each other even better while we have one task: working together and rowing safely until the job is done. We realize that it takes courage and that we are taking a risk, but it’s a calculated risk. Together with the people around us, the organization, our preparations and the right tools, we do everything we can to reach the port of Antigua safely. With this challenge we also want to inspire others to take the plunge and show that anything is possible, at any age.

Our beautiful grandchildren are healthy and growing up in a safe and loving environment. We wish that for every child and we are looking for a goal that contributes to this, but we have not yet made a final choice.

Together we row for the adventure that unites us – and for the social organization HOPE. Four people, different in age and experience, without rowing skills, but united by a common mission: to conquer the Atlantic in the “World’s Toughest Row”. What drives us is the thrill of the unknown, working together as a team and the joy of an extraordinary challenge. But while we pursue our goal, we support the social organization HOPE and give hope to those who battle even bigger waves every day.

As a team, we are excited about the unexpected challenges we will face every hour of the day on the Atlantic and what we will learn about ourselves in the process. The journey from La Gomera to Antigua is set to be an adventure of a lifetime.

Our team’s mission is centred around inspiring those around us to take action about the causes they care about within their local communities. This means each team member has chosen a local charity to support, each of whom will benefit from every penny of fundraising.

We are setting out to prove that an all female team of amateurs can not only tackle the high seas, but contribute to the increasing visibility of Women in Adventure sports. We are all women who love to sink our teeth into new challenges, and love the process of learning new skills and sports. The incredible effort of knowledge and skill acquisition required for this is already underway on our end and we are enjoying every second!

We are women who serve our communities in various roles; Helicopter Rescue Crewperson, Critical Care Nurse and Midwife, Teacher and Occupational Therapist. Additionaly, we actively contribute to our communities through Surf Lifesaving clubs, Laura serving as the commodore of her local Yacht Club, and our participation in fundraising events and sports clubs.

We have chosen Ruah Community Services as they are Perth Based Charity who do work to aid women and families affected by domestic violence, homelessness and mental health issues. They opened the first Women’s Refuge in Perth and continue to support thousands of women and children a year. We feel strongly about chosen charity, as family violence rates unfortunately rise in Australia.

We have chosen the Royal Flying Doctors Service as all of our members have worked for, or closely with the service and have seen firsthand the amazing work that is done to provide free 24/7 lifesaving aeromedical, primary and telehealth to Remote communities and cities around Australia. We are stoked to support narrowing the healthcare gap that 70,000 remote Western Australians experience.

When we committed to rowing a 9m boat 3000nm across the Atlantic Ocean, our initial thought was, “Are we slightly unhinged?”.

Well, yes! After many discussions, all being equally adventurous, we decided we’re ready to embrace the highs and lows that the World’s Toughest Row has to offer! We are ready to push our limits and enjoy the journey of a lifetime with our friendship at the heart of it all!

Taking on this challenge has deepened our admiration for the women and men who have done it before us, and we’re excited to make our mark for ourselves and Australia in 2026. Each of us brings a unique aspect to the team, and we’re ready to create unforgettable memories with each other and the other rowing teams.

We are proud to support Telethon7, a remarkable charity that provides crucial funding for medical research and child health services. Telethon’s commitment to improving the lives of children and supporting groundbreaking medical research is made possible by generous community donations, dedicated staff, and countless hours given by volunteers every year. We are humbled to contribute to Telethon7’s mission and look forward to working with them!

We may all have different reasons for taking part in this challenge, but we all share the same attitude, approach and commitment to completing the crossing!

Our charities have been as a way to ‘pay back’ for our own experiences.

The project presents a dual challenge for us, encompassing not only athletic performance but also resilience at sea. Our objective is to leverage this challenge as an optimal platform to raise awareness and secure financial support for cancer aid.

Hence, in instances where safety permits, we restrict our material procurement to cost-effective options, aiming to maximize the financial surplus for subsequent donations at the project’s conclusion. In line with this, we intentionally adhere to the motto “World rescue before world record.”

Amy, Hebe and Ruby met on the Women’s World Match Racing Tour sailing against each other, we then recruited Tiegan for her expert rowing knowledge.

The team is taking on this challenge to raise funds and awareness for our chosen charities, Women in Sport and CoppaFeel!. Our aim is to break down barriers and inspire women to pursue their dreams fearlessly, while facilitating the conversation on historically tabo topics through educating women on their body and prioritising health.

Sport fosters communities allowing opportunities for self belief and confidence to flourish. This type of supportive environment allows space for topics like breast checks to be talked about in a way that is not embarrassing but the norm.

Sport has changed our lives and we want all women to have the opportunity to take advantage of the transformative power of sport – it is not just a game, it can changes lives.

We have all competed in various epic events and are keen to test our resilience, and endurance, on this famous race.

The Clocktower Foundation and Matt Hampson Foundation provide phenomanal support for the special forces and those with serious spinal injury, respectively. We believe it is important to assist others who are not as fortunate in life, and this adventure, will enable us to raise funds for our chosen charities.