Atlantic Highway team flying the Devon flag in world’s toughest row

Forty-three ocean rowing boats with 114 ocean rowers representing 20 nations are preparing to leave San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 12 in the World’s Toughest Row organised by Atlantic Campaigns.

The 2025 race is a 3,000 mile unsupported rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean west from San Sebastian in La Gomera in the Canary Islands (280N 180W) to Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda (170N 610W).

The 43 competing crews are made up of 10 solos, 11 pairs, 6 trios and 16 fours. Amongst the crews there are two Devon rowers, Clare O’Reilly from Wembury who was at Dartmouth Regatta this year with her trio crew ‘Row with the Flow’ and Jess Smiles from Saunton who is rowing in a pair named ‘Atlantic Highway’ named after the highway through North Devon.

Clare O’Reilly, Melissa Jarman and Rosie Tong are three women, spanning three decades in age who are taking on the World’s Toughest Row as the trio ‘Row with the Flow’.

Mel and Rosie are accomplished rowers and have been teaching Clare everything they know before they take to the ocean for their charities Ocean Generation and the Dame Kelly Holmes trust.

Strangers until they signed up to the ‘Row with the Flow’ crew, they’re incredibly similar women and can’t wait to take on this huge challenge together.

Clare, 45, is a journalist, Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter and ultra marathoner; Mel, 33, is a social worker, rower and hiker; and Rosie, 26, is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and PT, army reservist and rower.

They’ll be rowing towards the women they’ll be when they finish this challenge and with every oar stroke, they’ll row with the flow.

Beth Murphy and Jess Smiles are an adventurous pair and well versed in extreme and endurance sport. They have signed up to the World’s Toughest Row to test their physical bodies, beat the world record and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing alongside their charity partner The Wave Project.

They are looking to conduct research into extreme sports as they take on this challenge to drive an understanding of their bodies and brains under extreme conditions.

They are working with The Wave Project, a charity dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people through the power of surf therapy.