3,000 miles for humanity at Christmas
At Christmas each year, I spend a lot of time thinking about the fleet of small rowing boats out at sea, each taking its own path from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean. While these extreme adventurers are rowing, I appreciate the fresh cooked food I get to eat so much more, my warm (dry) bed and even the luxury of sleeping uninterrupted through the night. Part of me tries to imagine the enormity of the dark star-lit skies overhead and the raw wildness of the sea, but whatever I’m thinking, these extraordinary human beings are never far from my thoughts.
We are very, very small, but we are profoundly capable of very, very big things. Stephen Hawking
Inspiration for christmas
For all the people in the world, battling their personal journey’s of illness, injury, loss, loneliness and hardship, there are 55 amazing human beings doing something hugely inspirational right now that will touch your lives.
I had the privilege of watching and photographing these endurance athletes during their final preparations for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2020/21: a 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic, unsupported, in the world’s toughest row, to raise over a million pounds for charity. Their causes range from cleaning up plastic from our oceans, sustainability, education, cancer and Alzheimer’s research, women’s and animal welfare to name a few (the 21 teams are listed below, with their nominated charities - feel free to visit their websites to make a donation).
Christmas is about giving… and they are giving their all
Getting to the start of the race is challenging, but overcoming the uncertainties of a global pandemic made it an exceptional accomplishment, showing the grit and determination of the participants. Tomorrow, on Christmas morning, they will have been rowing for 13 days, 24-7 in rotating shifts, sacrificing their sleep, health and comforts, and the company of their loved ones. They will find their own path to surviving and excelling at this test. They will wear the experience of this crossing in their hearts for the rest of their lives. They will never go back to the way they were before. They will be stronger. More resilient.
They will also have made a difference to our planet, and to everyone who occupies it. Bravo #TWAC2020
The teams and their charities are:
Rudderly Mad for Shelterbox and the Blue Marine Foundation
Atlantic Dragon for the MS Society
Wave Warrior for the Dogs Trust
Atlantic Solo for Horse Heard
Alzheimer’s Research for Alzheimer’s Research UK
Spoarting Chance for Sporting Chance
Atlantic Titan for Collateral Repair Project and Invictus Games Foundation
Melokhule for the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation and White Shark Projects
Team Antigua Pairs for the Rotary Club Sundown
Row4Cancer for Children’s Cancer Research
Atlantic Antics for Women in Sport and RTHM
Oardacity for MIND and the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation
Latitude 35 for Achilles International, Not Forgotten Association, Brian Cross Memorial Trust & The Pelorus Foundation
On Shoulder’s of Giants for My Name’s Doddie Foundation & Pursuing Independent Paths
Atlantic Duchesses for Het Vrouwenhart
The Bristol Gulls for Clean up Bristol Harbour and RNLI
HPF Atlantic for Human Practice Foundation
Duchess of the Sea for ALS Netherlands & The Plastic Soup Foundation
Generation Gap for MIND, Royal Marine’s Charities and Women’s Aid
For a Fitter Planet for Shelterbox and UNICEF
Force Genesis for Blood Bikes and Duty to Care
Keep them company and watch their progress on the 2020 Race Tracker - but be warned, it is highly addictive!
This screen grab from the tracker shows that winds are affecting progress of the boats to the middle and rear of the fleet.
