Sophie Wagstaff

All-female ocean rowing team embarks on 2,000 mile challenge around Great Britain

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A team of female ocean rowers will set off on a 2,000 mile rowing challenge around the entire coast of Great Britain on Sunday 4 June, and they’re aiming for a world record. 

The crew of six includes a cyber security expert, an Army nurse, a mountaineer, a former international rugby player, a fitness instructor and an RAF Air Cadets ambassador. 

They’ll be competing in the GB Row Challenge, a sporting event with a powerful sustainable purpose: the rowers collaborate with scientists from the University of Portsmouth to collect data on microplastics, temperature, noise pollution, and biodiversity. 

‘Team Ithaca’ will navigate complex tidal streams, shipping lanes and volatile weather to row in the world’s toughest rowing race.

Crew member and cyber security expert Amy Wood is no stranger to sport and adventure. She rowed the Atlantic at the age of 25, has represented England at karate and competed internationally in gymnastics. 

Amy currently works hard to ensure that planes are safe and secure from cyber threat attacks. She also played a part in establishing the UK as Europe’s first launch site to send satellites into orbit.

She said: “The GB Row Challenge is the icing on an already pretty incredible sporting career cake for me and I can’t wait to take it on! Much of my work life is focussed on aircraft, so I’m looking forward to spending some time on the water for a change.

“What makes this challenge so worthwhile is the wider purpose, which is more than just rowing. The data we collect on the way around will help scientists understand how our seas are changing and enhance our understanding of the many challenges facing British coastal waters.”

The team has completed over 200 hours of ocean rowing to prepare for the event, which sets off from Tower Bridge, London, at 3pm on Sunday 4 June.

They’ll be rowing continuously and unsupported, taking turns to row for two hours on and two hours off. They’re aiming to finish the row within 50 days or less. If successful, they will break the world record becoming the first team of six to have ever completed the feat. 

The team has also been trained to use specialist equipment to gather scientific data.

Dr Fay Couceiro, expert in biogeochemistry and environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Ocean pollution is one of the biggest challenges of our generation. The data collected by last year’s teams found that microplastic pollution was up to 100 times worse than previously recorded but what is really valuable is to see how fast the problem is changing.

“This unique collaboration between GB Row Challenge and the University aims to produce an annual map of ocean pollution and biodiversity, which will give a great baseline for the entire UK and show any changes happening year on year. This data will give a clearer picture of the environmental damage and long term impact of these pollutants on our seas.”

Jim Bastin, GB Row Challenge Director of Operations, has been working hard to ensure the team have the best possible chance of successfully and safely circumnavigating Great Britain in a rowing boat.

He said: “Team Ithaca is a fantastic group of ordinary people taking on an extraordinary challenge. They are a determined team who came together last year because they are passionate about adventure, but also about the environment.”

Jim was part of a rowing team that completed the challenge in 2005 setting a world record by completing it unsupported in 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes.

He added: “Our entry lists are open for 2024, 2025 and 2026, so please get in touch if you want to take on an epic row across the English Channel, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, the Western Isles, North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and the Thames Estuary. 

“This challenge is not for the fainthearted. We’re looking for people with a spirit of adventure and a love of the ocean. Having completed it back in 2005, I can certainly vouch for it being the world’s toughest rowing race, but it’s a hugely rewarding challenge.

“Crossing the Atlantic might be a 3,000 mile row, but the GB Row Challenge is a much more technically complex and challenging event, requiring good navigational ability to negotiate complex tidal streams, very variable weather systems and a challenging, but spectacular coastline.

“And unlike the Atlantic, it’s an event that not many teams have completed. It’s the rowing equivalent of climbing K2 instead of Everest. If you think you have what it takes please get in touch.”

Image shows L-R: Emma Wolstenholme, Amy L Wood, Clair Fennessy, Sandra Gates, Maggie Hodge and Emma Haxell

Pairing of sport and science is perfect opportunity for ocean-loving PhD student

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A student with a passion for scuba diving and science has just started her dream PhD at the University of Portsmouth. 

Laura Fantuzzi will spend the next three years analysing ocean pollution data collected by rowers during the GB Row Challenge, a 2,000-mile event that circumnavigates Great Britain’s coastline. 

She said: “I’m excited to be part of such an exciting and unique collaboration, which pairs sport and science. Citizen science projects like this are so important because they show how scientists can work with members of the public to elicit real change.”

GB Row Challenge partnered with the University of Portsmouth last year with the long-term aim of collecting data on microplastics, temperature, noise pollution and biodiversity between 2022 and 2025. 

Laura’s PhD will involve analysing this data, which is collected by rowing boats carrying specialist equipment. 

Laura, who is originally from Belgium, has a lifelong love of the ocean. She said: “I was fascinated by dolphins from a young age and discovered scuba diving when I spent eight months in Malta learning English at the age of 18. 

“I felt completely in my element when I was in the water and knew that I was destined to study marine biology at university, so I applied to do a Master’s in the subject in the UK.”

This grounding in marine biology led to an interest in microplastic pollution more generally and a holistic approach to the health of the environment, which set her on the path to a PhD opportunity she considers to be the perfect fit. 

She added: “This PhD combines so many things that are important to me - ocean pollution, biodiversity, citizen science and sport. It’s the perfect fit for me and couldn’t have come at a better time. 

“I knew I wanted to continue doing research into plastics pollution in particular because the scale of the problem is so alarming. Plastic pollution is everywhere - in the air, in lakes, rivers, the sea, the deep sea, in fish. It’s something we need to draw attention to and engage with if we want to solve the problem.

“What’s so exciting about this PhD is there is also the opportunity to study noise pollution, which is another major pollution problem in our oceans. I’ll be using analytical methods typically used for space science, which is very cool!”

Laura will also be reporting on biodiversity, creating a picture of what species are living in and around different areas of the coast and how these might be changing over time.

The results from last year’s challenge have already given an important contribution to the knowledge of UK seas. But Laura believes the strength of the project is how combining these datasets can be used in future. 

“By gathering data each year, we can build a valuable picture that will help preserve marine environments and wildlife”, she explained. “I really hope this will serve as crucial baseline data, which can eventually be used by policymakers to tackle pollution.”

GB Row Challenge Founder William de Laszlo said: “The data collected last year has already demonstrated the power of a project like this. By combining ocean rowing with science, we’ve gained greater insight into the state of our waters, which is fundamental to ensuring we can ultimately protect them.”

Laura was also a keen rower at university, but thinks she’ll be too busy in the lab reporting on the science to embark on the world’s toughest rowing race.

Dr Fay Couceiro, Reader in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Pollution at the University of Portsmouth, is one of Laura’s PhD supervisors. She said: “Laura is an excellent addition to this exciting collaboration between the university and GB Row Challenge. We’re thrilled to have her on board. 

“Now we need more rowers to join GB Row for the upcoming years, collecting data and information about what’s happening to our ocean, so we can have a clear picture of the environmental damage and long term impact of pollutants on our seas. If you’re interested in taking on an epic endurance challenge, please get in touch!”

Laura will be presenting the 2022 Impact Report at the University of Portsmouth’s PlasticsFuture conference next month.  

Female ocean rower determined to complete toughest race after two failed attempts

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A female ocean rower with an appetite for extreme adventure who has twice faced dramatic rescues on the high seas is hoping it’ll be third time lucky on her next challenge.

Emma Wolstenholme, 40, is picking up her oars to race around Great Britain’s coastline in June.

If her team succeeds, they’ll be the first crew of six to have ever managed the feat.

Emma, from Burnley, Lancashire, said: “With every unsuccessful attempt comes the opportunity to learn and grow, and to become stronger.” 

Emma is no stranger to bravery in the face of danger. Last year she attempted a gruelling transatlantic race rowing solo and unsupported, but due to catastrophic electrical failure on her 20 ft rowing boat she had to be rescued 500 miles off the coast of Africa in strong wind at night by the crew of a vast 210m cargo ship carrying 70,000 tonnes of paper.

She didn’t stop there. 

A few months later, she embarked on a race to circumnavigate Great Britain in a five-person crew, but was hit by the worst storm in the Irish Sea in 38 years, which meant the team was forced to abandon the challenge half-way round.

This year, the former RAF Squadron Leader and ex-Air Cadet, is attempting the GB Row Challenge again, skippering an all-female crew of six who’ll navigate complex tidal streams, shipping lanes and changeable weather to race 2,000 miles around Britain’s coastline.

Emma and her crew ‘Team Ithaca’ will row continuously and unsupported in shifts of two hours on and two hours off.

She said: “I’m determined this will be third-time lucky and believe that with all the ocean rowing experience under my belt, I’m in a better place than ever to finish this challenge. I’ve also just completed my Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory qualification. 

“Contending with fast-turning tides, unpredictable UK weather, a rocky coastline and busy shipping areas, this is a greater test of navigation, seamanship and skill than trans-ocean rowing.” 

The GB Row Challenge isn’t just about ocean rowing. It’s a challenge with a powerful sustainable purpose: Emma and crew will be collaborating with scientists to collect data on microplastics, temperature, noise pollution, and biodiversity. 

The aim of the research is to build a picture of the many challenges facing British coastal waters. Gathering comprehensive and crucial data that will help preserve precious marine environments and wildlife.

GB Row Challenge Founder William De Laszlo said: “We had a vision to not only host the toughest rowing challenge in the world, but to also add a powerful sustainable purpose to the event, leaving a legacy in the sport of ocean rowing for our environment.”

Last year’s teams collected invaluable scientific data, which found microplastics pollution around Great Britain’s coastline is up to 100 times worse than previously recorded. 

William added: “Each year we gather data, our scientific partners will be able to compare the data to track any trends or changes, which will strengthen our understanding of conditions in the seas around the UK. Our aim is that this real-world research will ultimately preserve Britain’s coast.”

Emma is no stranger to adventure. She served in the RAF for 16 years and was the last woman out of Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in 2014. After raising £91,000 for the RAF Air Cadets in 2022, she was made an honorary ambassador for the organisation. 

She has also taught kitesurfing in the Western Sahara, taught women how to march in the Middle East, climbed Kilimanjaro in the rainy season in five days and represented Great Britain at Skeleton Bobsleigh in the Europa Cup. 

As well as working on the future nuclear submarine programme and sailing from Iceland to Greenland in an all-female crew making a documentary about climate change, which was shown at COP26.

Team Ithaca will depart from Tower Bridge, London, at 3pm on Sunday 4 June for the GB Row Challenge 2023. The team is raising money for the CanRehab Trust.