Team Seasoar have set off for Antigua, joining the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic fleet early on Wednesday 11th December 2024!
We are so grateful to John Watling, Niall Brannigan, Jason Wilder and Sam Weber as they embark on this adventure, fundraising for Lyme Disease UK. They face a huge challenge. This is an endurance event that truly lives up to its name!
LDUK’s Co-founder and Chair, Natasha Metcalf, and Communications Manager, Joanne Lee, travelled to La Gomera to support the team and checked in with them ahead of the race.
(Credit: smugmug.com)
Team Seasoar – Sam, Niall, John and Jason
The challenge
- Alternating 2 hour rowing shifts, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for around 6 weeks for 3,000 miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean!
- 1.5 million oar strokes.
- 5,000 calories burned each day.
- Battling the elements including 20 foot waves, the never-ending damp, cold nights and extreme heat.
- Isolation, seasickness, salt sores, blistered hands, joint pain, limited sleep and exhaustion.
- Additional risks including mechanical issues, illness, injuries and accidents, Giant Marlin strikes, sharks and whales!
(Credit: smugmug.com)
It’s not too late to show your support
- You can still sponsor Team Seasoar at only £20/mile and do your bit to help raise funds for LDUK.
- Team Seasoar branded hoodies, T-shirts and merchandise are also available in the LDUK shop.
Final preparations, Ginger Nuts and Kendal Mint Cakes!
The small town of San Sebastian de La Gomera was overrun with people involved in the race. The streets and marina were full of rowers, their families and friends, race organisers, past entrants and supporters. It was great to meet up with everyone involved; you could really sense the anticipation and excitement in the air.
Niall, Natasha and Sam
Due to bad weather the whole fleet raced to prepare to leave a day early. We caught up with John checking provisions as he explained plans to row swiftly south to bypass tough seas. He also let us take a sneaky peek at some last minute essentials for the crossing!
The day before the race we attended a briefing for family and friends outlining the challenges the men will face, as well as reassuring us about the safety measures in place to support them.
It was sobering to learn more about what the team will likely endure but also awe-inspiring to hear of high points from previous rows. The huge skies, the stars, the sunrises and sunsets, the beauty of life at sea, and the wildlife they’ll likely meet on their way. It was clear this race will be the experience of a lifetime!
Excitement and nerves!
The atmosphere at the marina in San Sebastian de La Gomera last Wednesday morning was electric as the teams waited to depart. Families, friends and supporters crowded the marina. Crews made final checks and said goodbyes to loved ones. Excitement, laughter, cheers and chants swirled around on the wind.
It was an emotional morning for everyone as the enormity of the challenge loomed large! Although the rowers are well trained and well supported this will likely be one of the toughest physical and mental challenges of their lives. A challenge too for the teams’ families and friends as they nervously wait for updates and keep everything running smoothly at home.
It was a particularly poignant moment for those of us directly affected by Lyme disease. After years of battling for recognition and support, seeing the LDUK logo glinting in the sunshine seemed a pivotal moment. Four amazing men taking action to help to create change for all of us affected by the illness. Fundraising on the largest scale we have yet seen, raising huge amounts of awareness in the process. We send the team our deepest thanks for their commitment to our joint cause.
The Lyme community is a force! Once a barely known disease, recently it really feels like there’s been a shift and increased drive to bring about change for Lyme patients.
Jo and Natasha out and about in La Gomera!
‘Oardrey’ heads out to sea!
Team Seasoar seemed calm and confident as they waved goodbye and rowed their boat ‘Oardrey’ out of the marina towards open sea. We watched until they became a distant speck on the horizon before turning back to cheer on the remaining teams. We’re so proud of and grateful to John, Niall, Sam and Jason and have been regularly checking their progress online.
(Credit: worldstoughestrow.com)
You too can track Team Seasoar and follow their adventures at sea on their social media accounts. Just to warn you though…this can get rather addictive! The highs and lows of the challenge are nerve-wracking and fascinating in equal measure!
The World’s Toughest Row organisers will also be posting updates on their social media should you wish to chart the progress of the entire fleet.
(Credit: smugmug.com)
In our thoughts
Just before they left, Sam shared with us a poem titled ‘Atlantic Row‘, written in support of the team by a close friend, Jaki Jackson, facing her own devastating health challenge.
We honour her here and hold her in our thoughts, along with all of you fighting for your health, as well as our intrepid team of brave men at sea.
Go Team Seasoar! You’ve got this!