2025 Race Entrants

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.

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.

Oar the Rainbow is a team of people who believe in doing hard things in pursuit of our most fulfilled lives. We see the Pacific Challenge as an exciting opportunity to push the limits of our endurance and find strength not only in ourselves, but in each other. Each drawn to water and sport in our own ways, we know there’s nothing we can’t do together when we put inclusion, joy, and kindness at the heart of our team. Our team believes representation in sports matters, and we are proud to embody this belief by supporting the first out transgender rower to cross the Pacific.

Oar the Rainbow is proud to be rowing in support of two remarkable nonprofits – Doctors Without Borders and Athlete Ally. Doctors Without Borders is an independent nonprofit providing global medical humanitarian assistance to those in need, while Athlete Ally is dedicated to activating athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sport. Together our team envisions a world of diverse, flourishing communities where each individual is valued, included, and empowered to thrive as their authentic selves and we believe the work these organizations do support that vision.