In early November 2014 I will be leaving Gran Canaria aboard the ‘Toby Wallace’ to row across the Mid Atlantic.  We are going head-to head in a race against the 6 man 'Oystershack', with both boats setting a pace for new world crossing records.

The Toby Wallace is a light-weight 8 man ocean rowing boat and was designed specifically to go after and break the '4 minute mile of ocean rowing and achieve the Atlantic Speed Record crossing in under 32 days.

The boat was originally called Titan, but renamed the Toby Wallace in memory of one of the original crew members who sadly died in a tragic road bike accident whilst raising funds for charity.  We will be rowing to break the record in his honour.

The MID ATLANTIC ROW route that we take is from Puerto de Mogan, Gran Canaria to Port St Charles, Barbados – some 2598 nm! This is a favoured route across the mid-Atlantic, as you usually find favourable currents and trade winds on this passage.  

The crossing must be unassisted to qualify as a recognised Ocean crossing.  The boat and the crew must be self-sufficient and we must carry all of the equipment and food we will need for the journey.  

Conditions on-board are basic and we can expect to experience some tough times that will test us and the boat to our limits. There is no room to move around freely and the motion of the boat is constant.

We will undoubtedly encounter nature at her best and worst, and during the crossing will become all too familiar with extreme temperatures; painful salt sores; blisters; powerful storms; 30-foot waves; wildlife (not all of them friendly!); and other ships!

There is no room on-board for home comforts, no bathroom facilities, limited cooking ability and a diet of high calorie expedition foods and snacks. We will drink desalinated water and sleep in the cabin in a space smaller than a single bed!  I have put on over 2 stone of extra weight over the last couple of months as i can expect to lose a fifth of my body weight during the crossing.

The boat is self-righting in case of capsize and robust enough to cope with many weeks at sea in extreme conditions. It kitted out with the latest electronic systems so that the boat can be tracked hour by hour, and can communicate with land and shipping whilst out at sea through a variety of methods.

Electrical power is generated via solar panels and emergency drinking water is carried in the form of ballast, stored low in the boats to ensure their self-righting integrity.

The boat is skipped by simon Chalk who holds the record for most ocean rows (8) and has crossed the Atlantic three times before.

You will be able to follow the boat live on the link below.  There are also further details on the Ocean Rowing Society pages website.