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The Challenge
Rowing Oceans for Women is taking on the World's Toughest Row: a rowing race across the Pacific Ocean. With a World Record on the line, the team will push themselves to their absolute limits as they row across 2,800 miles of open ocean.
The Route
The race begins in the historic harbor of Monterey, California. The team will navigate 2800 miles across the Pacific Ocean, to reach the stunning island of Kauai, Hawaii. After two years of preparation, the team will gather in the Summer of 2024. The race is set to launch on June 8th, 2024. The team is expected to land in Hawaii in Mid-July.
The Boat
There are two types of ocean rowing boats that rowers compete in: open class and race class. Open class boats typically sit deeper into the water and are less prone to wind movements. Contrarily, race class boats sit closer to the waters surface level and are much faster. Rowing Oceans for Women intends to compete in race class.
The Training
Rowers undergo vigorous training leading up to the race with the minimum on-water training hours being 72 hours, with at least 12 hours of the 72-hour period conducted during the hours of darkness. Additionally, rowers are required to hold several certifications and licenses in order to compete.
The Crossing
When the team pushes off the dock in Monterey, they will face a long and grueling journey. Contributing to the physical and mental toll, the challenge could bring 40ft waves, extreme temperatures, storms, marine life encounters, sea sickness, hallucinations and weight loss.
Shift Pattern:
With a shift pattern of alternating 2 hours on the oars and 2 hours off the oars (in which they must eat, clean, maintain or fix equipment, and sleep), each team member will be rowing at least 12 hours a day. Over the course of the challenge, the rowers will never sleep more than 1.5 hours at a time - subjecting them to extreme sleep deprivation.
Food and Hydration:
Collectively, the team will row over 1.5 million strokes. To fuel this, they will aim to eat 5,000 calories of food per day. The crew will make their own water with a solar powered water-maker, which aims to produce at least 10L per day. On average, ocean rowers lose 25lbs while at sea.
Support:
The Pacific Challenge is an unsupported race, meaning the crew must be entirely self-sufficient. All the food, supplies, and equipment that will be required for the duration of the 30-60 days at sea, must be brought on board at the start of the race. There will be a World's Toughest Row support yacht that crosses at the same time as the competitors. Each team will get a visit from the yacht during the crossing (to say hello and take photos), but any assistance results in disqualification.
Safety:
Safety is the number one priority for the team and the race organizers. In addition to the communication protocols, the team will bring a long list of safety gear, including a life raft, life jackets, survival suits, EPIRBs, flares, spare electronics, a complete medical kit, ditch bags with water and food etc. All team members will complete sea survival and first aid courses to ensure they are trained to handle even the worst of situations.
