Firestyle Magazine Issue 5 - Autumn 2016 | Page 8

FIRE SERVICE RELATED “More people have been into space than rowed the Atlantic Ocean” THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a 3,000 mile endurance race across the world’s most dangerous ocean, The Atlantic. The expedition sees intrepid teams pitching ourselves against; each other, 40ft waves, sleep deprivation and the ever present threat of shark attacks! Each team is self-sufficient. We carry all of our supplies on our own vessel. We may be on board these a 23ft rowing boats for up to 100 days at sea. START POINT – La Gomera, Canary Islands END POINT – Antigua, West Indies DISTANCE – 3,000 Nautical Miles “No Engine, No Sail. No Assistance.” 08 THE RACE The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge is a 3,000 nautical mile endurance race across the world’s most dangerous ocean, The Atlantic. No Engine, No Sail. No Assistance is the basis of this race, with teams rowing 23ft rowing boats from start to finish. The intrepid teams pitch themselves against each other battling 40ft waves, sleep deprivation, shark attacks and have to carry all food and water on board for the journey which can take up to 100 days. More people have been into space or have climbed Mount Everest than have rowed the Atlantic. The race was founded by Sir Chay Blyth in 1997 and Team Noble intends to enter the 20th Anniversary which will leave in December 2017 from La Gomera, Canary Islands and finish in Antigua, West Indies. If successful in this attempt, Team Noble will become the first ever Scottish firefighters to row across any of the world’s oceans.   THE BOAT Our boat “The Pendovey Swift” is a Woodvale Pairs class 23ft ocean rowing boat that has crossed the Atlantic Ocean no less than three times! The boat has been renovated completely and a platform complete with steps and a handrail has been installed, allowing observers to look inside a real ocean rowing boat. THE TRAINING To train for up to 100 days at sea requires a strict regimen of nutrition and training. An average day leading up race will consist of: Nutrition: • Breakfast – bowl of cereal or porridge, wholegrain toast with poached eggs, and a bagel or muffin • Lunch – plenty of carbohydrates, usually pasta or chilli and rice, accompanied with veg. • Dinner – Chicken, turkey, or fish, with plenty of vegetables. The average sized ocean rower will lose 2 stone in weight on an Atlantic Crossing, so you need to pile on the pounds. Plenty of fruit and veg helps to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency.