Sea Legs

Sea Legs are a mixed crew made up of an Olympian, Paralympian, former RAF navigator, a World Record holder for the GB row pairs & a British Adventurer. We’ve come together because our views are aligned and our passion for the environment and science meeting sport is a huge part of our motivation.
Our logo for Sea Legs is an octopus with five legs because there’s five of us & it’s also a reminder of what we’re rowing for. An octopus is also very good at fitting into tight spaces, just like we’ll have to do on the boat! As lovers of the ocean we’ve committed to this challenge to help collect the largest data set of its kind with the hope that we can help protect the place we love so much.
sea-legs-team

Chris Howard

Chris has spent most of his life living out of his backpack, travelling the world and immersing himself in dangerous challenges. It‘s a key part of who he is to push himself physically & mentally -  whether it’s walking long distances, rowing oceans, cycling across countries or running marathons Chris commits himself fully to achieve the unthinkable. Chris works with a variety of charities & brands that are committed to protecting the environment & He’s passionate about ensuring he has as low impact as possible in everything he does.
Passionate about the environment Chris writes and gives talks all over the country to a variety of organisations on a variety of subjects from biodiversity to adventure, resilience, team building, positivity & taking action and much more. Chris believes his greatest adventures are in helping others achieve something they thought they couldn’t.
Chris has devised and lead endurance events in cycling, running, rowing & walking. He recently completed 450 consecutive marathons with his backpack walking the entire coast of Britain. Chris believes the outdoors is his greatest teacher and hopes to inspire his three daughters to achieve anything they want and not to be afraid of an unconventional life.
chris
Favourite book -  the outsider by Albert Camus
Joke- what happened when Coco the clown retired? Bozo stepped in… had big shoes to fill
Film - Enter the dragon, or literally any old school Kung Fu film
Drink - mint tea, Guinness
Quote - “may the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face and the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars”…
Three words - relentlessly attempting humility
Why Rowing - It’s a moving meditation, it’s the ultimate in mind & body connection for me.
Reason I Love the sea - it’s the embodiment of raw tempestuous power and calm magnetic connection, it’s how we are as humans just bigger and wetter…

Emma Wolstenholme

I grew up in Burnley and, although it's quite inland, I was a real water baby and completed a 5000m swim when I was just 8...and every badge you can think of by the time I was 10, including Personal Survival. I think this is why I'm so comfortable in the sea - be it ocean rowing, kitesurfing, kayaking, wakeboarding or just swimming - I feel relaxed and at home there. By the time I was 13, I had joined the Air Cadets and absolutely loved the adventures we got up to - from shooting and orienteering to flying and abseiling, I learned that if you say yes to every opportunity, you will grow and become stronger for it.
I then served for 16 years in the Royal Air Force as a commissioned officer, and realised I wanted to have more adventures and independence so I set about doing just that as soon as I left. In less than 3 years, I have been to Western Sahara teaching people how to kitesurf; the Middle East teaching women how to march (in Arabic!); climbed Kilimanjaro in the rainy season in 5 days; worked on the future nuclear submarine programme; sailed from Iceland to Greenland on an all-female crew making a documentary about climate change which was shown at COP26; and prepared for and attempted to cross the Atlantic by rowing solo and unsupported from Tenerife to Barbados.  The latter ended in a dramatic rescue at night in big seas by a 210m cargo ship due to a catastrophic electrical failure, but the stories of inspiration that ensued by the thousands of RAF Air Cadets that were following my journey and others across the globe was worth every bit of disappointment I had felt. I raised over £91,000 for the RAF Air Cadets and they made me their Honorary Ambassador, which was the most amazing gift of all.
So...the most important thing for me on this row is to try to inspire as many Air Cadets as possible through our actions...and hopefully complete the circumnavigation of Great Britain! I remain a realist though, and know that there are so many things that could go wrong, but I know that being a solid team will make our chance of success all the greater.
emma
Favourite book - This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay
Joke- What is a pirate’s favourite letter of the alphabet? ARR? No, it be the SEA!
Film - Anchorman
Drink - Cappuccino
Quote - “sometimes when you feel like you are f**ked, you are only about 45% f**ked” - Nims Purja, 14 Peaks
Three words - adrenaline, inspire, awesome!
Why Rowing - Being on the ocean with just your boat, your crew and the elements is a world which not many people have experienced, and a challenge which tests you, both physically and mentally
Reason I Love the sea - It’s my playground! I kitesurf, kayak, swim, wakeboard, sail and row. I always feel calm and at home when I’m near it!

Jason Mckinlay

Having been involved in endurance sports for many years, I began to appreciate the relationship between our mind and body. Altering size and shape through many difference experiences for different endurance sports over the last 25 years have given me huge appreciation and understanding of what we’re made of.
Working in this field in my career for as long as I can remember, I help others achieve their goals while retaining a passion for personal endeavours and tests of mind and body.
I don’t underestimate the magnitude of the challenge we’re undertaking at GB Row in 2022 and having managed to navigate around in a 2-man team in 2013 and take nothing for granted.  This will be an impressive addition to my CV given most sports competitions I take part in are personal or as part of a small team. Of all the challenges I’ve taken on, this offers the most complex elements. That, the team diversity, science contributions snd contributions to nature research are the reasons for tackling this again.
Outside of keeping in tune with my mind and body, and the success and failures that come with the process! I am passionate about all forms of the Arts, but the most important thing to me is to learn, learn from everyone I meet. Everything I can.  Then I take what is useful and leave the rest behind.  The people I learn most from are my two wonderful children, Oliver & Emilia.  Hopefully, I can teach them something in return.
I look forward to June 12th with healthy anticipation.
jason
Favourite book- The Myth of Sisyphus/The Outsider both by Albert Camus
Th Sun Also Rises - Hemingway
Joke - (The short one) Two birds sitting on a perch. One says to the other, can you smell fish
Film- (I’d need all day)
New - Death on the Nile
Old - Casablanca
Drink - Badois
Quote - “in the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer’
Three words - Humility, Love, Family
Why Rowing - where I bury myself into the depths of despair giving every single ounce of energy into each stroke (dry land) and being rewarded by that effort
Reason I Love the sea - Oceans, jungles, deserts, mountains. They’re all the same to me.  The respect I give them is what I receive in return. Serenity. The sea is special because the contrast of power and calm leaves me no choice but to respect it.

Lamin Deen

Lamin joined the Grenadier Guards in 1998 at the age 16, where he quickly took to the way of life with his eyes firmly set on climbing the ranks.  By the age of 18, Lamin had already travelled to different parts of the world including conflict zones.  He also engaged in the ceremonial role, having had the honour of guarding of the Royal Households and participating in the Queen's birthday parade.  In 2012, he transitioned into fulltime professional sport as he showed huge potential in the sporting arena.  He then went on to participate in the 2014 and 2018 winter Olympic games, winning medals in the world cup and setting British and other speed records.  Lamin now has his eyes firmly set on his third Olympic games in 2022.

lamin
Favourite book - You can’t hurt me (David Goggins)
Joke- What did the traffic light say to the car?
Don’t look I’m changing.
Film- The last samurai/cool runnings
Drink- West African Fanta
Quote- You can’t eat an elephant in one sitting!
3 words- Never say die
Why Rowing- To challenge myself, something I’ve never done before, step out of my comfort zone.
Why I love the sea- I am trying to gain the love for the sea.

Sophie Harris

Born in Torbay, South Devon, moved around in my childhood, and I was even lucky enough to have lived in Cyprus for a few years. At the age of 17 I moved to Scotland and I lived there for 6 years, where I studied Access to Nursing at Moray college UHI. My daughter was born in 2004. I worked in the hospitality sector, as well as agency care work, before I then moved back to Devon in 2009.

I was born with Talipes Equinovarus and suffered with arthritis in my early 20's and developed Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. After several operations and losing my way with life and my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, I decided that amputation would be my best option; this happened on the 2nd of February 2017. When I knew this was going ahead, I took up Coastal Rowing with Mayflower ORC, largely to say I have tried it- little did I know that I would catch the rowing bug and be invited to Talent ID for GB Para Rowing in the August of 2017. I took up fine boat rowing with Dart Totnes ARC, and in March 2018 I was successful at gaining a place on the GB Para Development squad. That same year I started a Foundation degree in Sports Therapy with City College Plymouth. In December 2018 I was lucky enough to earn Bronze at the British Rowing Indoor championships, however in November 2019, I had to withdraw from the squad following the passing of my coach. However, this was not the end, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and experience, but I decided it was time for a shift in direction. After successful completion of my foundation degree, I carried on to my BSc Hons in Sports Rehabilitation and had to have revision surgery in October 2020.

I enjoy taking part in various challenges varying from the St Luke's Midnight Walk whilst using crutches in 2010, to the more recent Somerset 525 virtual rowing champs, Dorset Conquer the Cape 725km indoor and outdoor rowing, to the 3 peaks Challenge for Love Rowing. I am also an intern Sports therapist for Plymouth Albion RFC and I am on track to start my MSc in Pre reg Physiotherapy in September 2021.

As I face challenges daily, I thought why not add another by taking on a row around Great Britain. Since finding this opportunity. it has allowed for a big tick off the bucket list, and the competing and completing with the crew will also be a huge achievement and certainly further shape me as a person.

sophie
Favourite book - Redemption from iron bars to iron man.
Joke- Why don’t pirates take a shower before they walk the plank?
They just wash up on shore!
Film - Green Mile
Drink - Tea , Alcoholic- Rhubarb Gin.
Quote - “I can, you can, we can “
Three words - Determined, Non fluffy , Lovable.
Why Rowing - Bucket List before amputation and caught the bug and loved it ever since !
Reason I Love the sea - it’s non clinical

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