Two lifelong friends from the Isle of Man are preparing to row 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in one of the toughest endurance challenges, all in support of charity.
Mike Read, 58, and Tim Foster, 57, known as Team Cheerfulness, are taking part in The Atlantic Dash, an unsupported ocean rowing event involving just five crews this year.
Weather permitting, they are due to set off on Saturday (January 24) from Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, rowing to Jolly Harbour in Antigua.
Atlantic Row
The pair will row a Rannoch RX25 ocean rowing boat, working in two-hour shifts around the clock for up to 90 days.
The challenge is not a race, but it is widely regarded as one of the toughest physical and mental endurance tests in the world.
Crews face 30-foot waves, sudden storms, intense heat by day, freezing nights, sleep deprivation and total isolation, with no support boat. Everything needed for the journey must be carried from the start.
Friends since the age of 10, Mike and Tim grew up on the coast of the Isle of Man, where their love of the sea was formed.
The dream of rowing an ocean began at age 14 after a gruelling seven-hour row from Ramsey to Laxey in a small wooden boat. More than 40 years later, that childhood ambition is becoming reality.
Rowing for Charity
They are rowing in support of Crossroads Care Isle of Man, a charity that provides vital respite and support to unpaid carers. Funds raised will help carers and their families, with a portion covering essential safety and expedition costs.
Their team name comes from their boat, Cheerfulness, and reflects their shared motto: “Cheerfulness in the face of adversity.”
Both men are ex-forces and hope their journey will inspire others.
Progress can be followed via the Yellow Brick app, MarineTraffic, and on Facebook and Instagram at @cheerfulnessatlanticrow.
You can donate to the duos efforts by clicking this link.
