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THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW

The 'World's Toughest Row' is an annual ocean rowing race which starts from La Gomera, Canary Islands and ending just a 'short' 3000 nautical miles (5000 km) later in Antigua and Barbuda. More people have climbed Mount Everest than have rowed across this ocean. In the 12 years since this challenge began only a handful of crews have successfully completed the crossing. Included in these numbers are only 120 female athletes. In December 2024, we, ‘The Atlantic Stormtroopers’, Anique and Saskia, will embark on their Atlantic Crossing as the first female Dutch duo who rowed an ocean. And that is only the beginning of our story!

Friendship, a thriving curiosity, a certain amount of insanity, love for people, heart for the ocean, physical empowerment and the urge for adventure brought us together.

We decided to combine all those elements into one big adventure and strive to help as many people as possible to reach a better healthcare and help to make the ocean healthy again.

A healthy ocean can decrease natural disasters, thus helping people – often without access to medical care – who have been affected by climate change. With these values in mind will we will row our asses off and nail these 5000 km across the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat.

Team up with us!

The Facts

• We are the first duo of Dutch women who will row and cross the Atlantic ocean. If we make it, we will break a world record.
• At least 1.5 million strokes will be rowed to cross the ocean
• 2 hours on the oars and 2 hours off to sleep, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• 3000 nautical miles of Atlantic between La Gomera and the finish line in Antigua
• More people have gone to space than have rowed the Atlantic
• Burning 5000 calories a day
• Lose probably more than 8 kg bodyweight during the crossing
• Sleep deprivation, isolation, exhaustion, mental breakdowns - a real test of mental and physical resilience
• Monstrous high waves and the unpredictable Atlantic storms to contend with
• Everything we require for our journey we must carry on board
• We will need to drink over 10 liters water every day - provided by a desalinator machine on the boat
• The last 3 races involved Marlin collisions, Kevlar protection is now a requirement for boats making the crossing
• There is no toilet onboard - 'bucket it and chuck it'.

A real test, a real adventure!