When I first started training for my ocean rowing journey in Weymouth, I knew the physical challenge would be intense, but what I didn’t fully anticipate was how transformative the experience of living — and sleeping — in such a small space would be. For the first few days, I slept in my boat, True Blue, while it was still on the trailer, before launching it into the water. Little did I know that these tight quarters would teach me some valuable lessons about simplicity, adaptability, and the things that really matter.
On the 15th June 2016 at 0900hrs Laval set off from Halifax Canada to row to Brest In France. He completed the 2390nm crossing in 53 days 8hrs 26mins. In support of his friend Hazelwood who had been diagnosed with cancer, he turned his personal adventure into the “Confront Cancer Ocean Row.” A fundraising effort in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation raising $60,000. True Blue was named after the main sponsor.
On the 4th January 2018 at 0610hrs Stephen set off from Puerto Morgan Gran Canaria to row to Barbados. He Completed the 2601nm crossing in 41 days 0hrs 10mins. Despite losing his seat on the Seventh day and countless capsizes. He was greeted by Richard Branson who he met when they completed the Virgin Strive Challenge together. Richard said, “when I heard about Stephen Shanley’s idea to row solo for 3000 miles across the Atlantic, it sounded almost impossible. But he’s done it!. All the push himself to strive in life and raise funds for Big Change and Ocean Unite (£20,000) congratulations.”
On the 5th January 2019 at 0902hrs Dawn Smith set off from Pasito Blanco Gran Canaria to row to Barbados. She completed the 2603nm crossing in 51 days 17hrs 15mins. She became the 7th woman on the planet to have achieved this. Despite the challenges on her first few days, things started to pick up as she got into the swing of the sea life. She said, “I would say the wildlife was the highlight. There were turtles who literally came up past me to inspect the boat. I put my camera in the water and he came right up to it.” Dawn raised £20,000 for the marine conservation society gaining the award of fundraiser of the year presented by Deborah Meaden.
On the 11th February 2022 at 1201hrs Victoria Evans set off from Amerilla Tenerife to row to Barbados. She completed the 2618nm crossing in 40 days 19hrs, becoming the fastest solo and unsupported female to complete this crossing and gained a Guinness World Record. Victoria used the row as a platform to drive awareness about and fundraise for, Women In Sport. To date, she has raised over £33,000 to support the amazing work they are undertaking. As a lawyer, Victoria has used her position to campaign for some amazing changes in sports policies that effect women. For example, Virgin London Marathon had no written policy deferrals for pregnant women. Victoria said, “ on my 35th birthday, as I was 800 miles into rowing across the Atlantic to fundraise for change in women’s sport, I received the news that their deferral policy had been published.”
