2027 Race Entrants

Against The Tide is our campaign to inspire hope through movement showing that even the toughest tides in life can be turned one small step or stroke at a time. By rowing the Atlantic, we aim to encourage others to keep going, reach out, and hold onto what matters to them, while supporting Samaritans vital work so no one struggles alone.

We’re the Ash family — Charlotte, Camilla, James and Henry and in 2027, we’ll be rowing across the Atlantic Ocean together and raising money for the charity Suicide&Co.

Charlotte – mum and wife. 62 years old. The mother of the team in this crazy adventure though not sure who will be in charge…

I have had wanderlust my whole life but had never thought of it coming in this form. Water based activities have never been my forte and waves are things I hope will only happen in my brain! I had never imagined being where I am in life right now and am definitely daunted by what lies ahead but in memory of my husband and best friend I will give this my absolute best.

Camilla – sister and daughter. 36 years old. The only long distance open water crossing I’ve done was as a passenger in a sailing boat from Colombia to Panama. The journey took 36 hours with rough seas the entire way, and I vowed never to do something like that again! And here I am…

I’m a linguist, a lawyer and love travelling. My favourite place in the whole world though is Yorkshire, and it will always be the place I call home. I’m terrified by this challenge, and I know my dad would think us mad, but I can’t wait to make him proud.

James. Brother and son. 34 years old. I’m into music as well as endurance sports. I’m more at home running a marathon than I am on a rowing machine. I also love racquet sports and get on the tennis or padel court whenever I can. My 9-5 is for a bank. This row is to honour Dad and to prove to myself that we can achieve amazing things despite everything that has happened to us.

Henry. Brother and son. 31 years old. I love sport and rowing the Atlantic was my idea! I’m determined to succeed whatever it takes. This row is for Dad and giving others hope to survive the hardest moments in life.

We’re doing this in memory of our husband and father, Robert, who died by suicide on 19th September 2023, aged 61. He was a happy, funny, family man with so much ahead of him and his death has changed our lives forever.

We want to break the silence around suicide. Mental health is talked about more than ever, yet so many still don’t know how to approach it — especially when it comes to loss. We hope this row can start conversations and help others feel less alone in their grief.

Suicide&Co has been a vital support for us, offering professional counselling and a safe space to feel heard. While nothing can bring Robert back, their work helps people like us find a way forward.

This row is our tribute to him — to the husband and dad we miss every single day — and a call to keep mental health and suicide bereavement at the top of the conversation.

Keep talking x

Marieke and Renate are in for the Double. With their team of 4 ‘Atlantic Dutchesses’ they won the female class of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2020. Their story is not over yet. Loving the Ocean and addicted to rowing, they are ready for yet another adventure.

For an outsider it may be hard to follow why they can’t stop rowing and longing for another challenge that will put their stamina to new limits. But why explain when life is too short to do all the things you love doing.

The charity was an obvious choice: the Women’s Heart. Just like their Atlantic campaign they choose right from the heart for this charity as there is so much more research needed to identify differences between men’s and women’s hearts.

These two women follow their hearts: heart to follow.

I’ve always thrived on physical challenges. At 17, during lockdown, I ran the equivalent of Devon’s circumference – a half marathon a day for 30 days. A former national-level middle-distance runner, I found this experience sparked a deeper passion for endurance feats.

In my first year at university, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. Then, while sitting my final exams, I completed Ironman Austria at 21. Since then, I’ve completed six marathons, numerous half marathons, and in April 2025, broke both the World and British Records for the Million Metres on a rowing erg.

For this adventure, I’m proud to be supporting Devon Air Ambulance and Shelter UK.

As a team we want to raise awareness of the effects of ocean pollution and raise funds to tackle this issue. On a journey outside of our comfort zones we are excited go face to face with ocean rowing for the first time.
And as our challenge is a global one, we want to work with a global charity that shares our vision to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. This is a mission that everyone should be contributing towards and we think the best thing we can do is row to support The Ocean Clean Up. Their technology and big picture thinking continue to inspire us and make them the best equipped organisation to tackle this environmental crisis.