TRACKING US HERE: https://yb.tl/rab2021

The challenge: To row circa 2,000 miles unassisted non stop around mainland Great Britain, departing from Cowes, aiming to achieve the world record for the first mixed team to do so.

This challenge is acknowledged to be one of the toughest rowing challenges in the world; rowing against changeable winds and fast turning tides - it is a greater test of endurance and skill than Transocean rowing hence why so few complete it. We will encounter extreme weather, navigating through busy shipping lanes, sleep deprivation, all whilst being able to see land - it will be hard!

World record attempt: There is no record for a mixed team doing it, there is a men's record of 26 days and a women's at 52 days but no record for non stop around mainland GB for a mixed team - we want that record!

In taking on this challenge we would love to raise money for a charity very close to our hearts the RNLI. They are the charity that saves lives at sea, they are made up of 95% of volunteers (like Scotty our crew member) who daily risk their lives to save others. They rely solely on voluntary donations - in donating to this page you are a lifesaver too.

Why us? We're not rowers! All of us are sailors with 100,000s of nautical miles between us. We think this will hold us in good stead for this challenge as it's about navigating the tides rather than constant brute strength. Having spent time at sea we hope we have the moral fortitude to get us around.

The team:

Andrew Burns (Superyacht captain) - British

Simone Talfourd (Freelance Film Marketeer + radio presenter) - British

Mia Showell-Woodsmith (Lawyer) - Australian

James Scott (professional Sailor + adventurer) - British

Roy Hubbard (Construction) - American

Elizabeth Grant (Superyacht Chief Officer) - New Zealand

Why do this?! We're all of the same mindset that these sorts of adventures enrich your soul and what better way to see Scotland than nipping in and out of the islands?! Covid has helped us all appreciate the value of family and friendship and I'm so excited to take on this challenge with some really close friends. If you speak to anyone who has attempted this before they always say it's the mental challenge which is the hardest - dealing with extreme sleep deprivation (unlike the Atlantic row there will be periods where we are at anchor and so we will have a very disrupted sleep schedule), hunger (we will need around 6-8000 calories per day). Everything is hard living on a boat like this, she's a Rossiter, 10m long, cramped and if you're not rowing or using the bucket facilities (!) you're in a tiny cabin sleeping. But anything worth doing isn't going to be easy.

We would also love to give a shout out to our sponsor - Aqua Nobel - a Swedish water brand which we'll be drinking as we go around and we're thrilled to be sponsored by them and to have Henri Llloyd as a clothing partner.