HMS Oardacious: Royal Navy Submariners Prepare To Row Unsupported Across Atlantic

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge sees competitors row 3000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua.

16th October 2019 at 12:44pm

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Four Royal Navy submariners are attempting to cross the Atlantic in the world’s toughest unsupported rowing race.

The team, known as ‘HMS Oardacious’, is hoping to raise £100,000 for two military charities by rowing 3,000 miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

As submariners, the team are used to the challenges of the ocean – spending months at a time under the waves with no contact to the outside world. 

But now they are training for their biggest challenge yet, and for a change, it is above the surface.

Lieutenant Hugo Mitchell-Heggs says the team’s day jobs should mean they are well prepared.

“We are used to a watchkeeping routine, and we’ve operated in scenarios where we’ve experienced tiredness and sleep deprivation,” he told Forces News.

“It’ll be something that will hopefully prepare us for this one.”