Two crews set off from Tower Bridge in London on Sunday (June 14) to take on a non-stop circumnavigation of Britain by rowing boat.
The GB Row Challenge will see teams named Rowmads and Nautilus attempt to row 2,000 miles around the British coastline, battling unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and demanding sea conditions.
As they row, the teams will gather information on ocean health and pollution levels. This data will be analysed by scientists at the University of Portsmouth before being shared through The Crown Estate's Marine Data Exchange, an open-access resource which is one of the world's largest collections of marine industry data.
GB Row Challenge Founder, William de Laszlo, has completed the challenge twice.
Pulling Together — The Rowmads crew of Stefano Capella, Mike Eager, Marco Capella, Felix Wood and Sam Gibbons train ahead of their attempt to row non-stop around Great Britain, combining endurance sport with marine science research. Photo: GB Row Challenge
He said: “I am incredibly excited to see these two teams take on this year’s GB Row Challenge and combine an extraordinary sporting feat with the collection of critical data about the challenges facing Britain's coastal waters.
“This exceptional group of people is embarking on something truly remarkable. More than 7,000 people have climbed Everest, yet fewer than 30 have rowed continuously and unsupported around Great Britain.”
The teams face weeks at sea, rowing in shifts around the clock as they attempt to complete what is described as the world’s toughest rowing trip.
Rowmads is made up of three military doctors, including two brothers who serve as a trauma surgeon and a firefighter, and a fitness coach.
Nautilus brings together a team with backgrounds spanning healthcare, sustainability, education and environmental management.
Nautilus skipper Aoife Luscombe returns after being forced to abandon her 2024 attempt on the Cornish coast and is determined to complete the journey this year.
The rowers gather data on microplastic pollution, biodiversity, underwater noise pollution, sea temperature and salinity, which will contribute to ongoing research efforts aimed at understanding the impacts of human activity on marine ecosystems and informing strategies for conservation and sustainability.
Previous GB Row Challenge expeditions have uncovered higher levels of microplastic pollution and rising sea temperatures. Scientists analysing the data are creating a valuable long-term record of changing conditions in UK coastal waters.
The data collected during the 2024 race found that microplastic pollution in waters around Great Britain was significantly higher than previously recorded. Average concentrations reached 59 microplastic particles per cubic metre of seawater, more than double the levels measured in comparable surveys in 2022 and 2023.
Professor Fay Couceiro, University of Portsmouth expert in biogeochemistry and environmental pollution and lead scientist for GB Row Challenge, said: "The data collected during this expedition will provide a valuable window into the health of Britain's coastal waters and help us better understand the environmental pressures these ecosystems face.
“Scientific research often depends on observations gathered across vast areas and long periods of time, and that is where citizen science can make such a powerful contribution,"she said.
I am very grateful to the two teams and their commitment to help generate information that could benefit marine research for years to come,"she added.
Both Rowmads and Nautilus have spent months preparing for the challenge through extensive physical training, safety exercises, logistical planning and over 200 hours at sea.
This year’s joint headline sponsors are Cleaner Seas Group and Simply Sustainable - two organisations focused on advancing practical solutions to environmental challenges.
