On the 12th of December, the formidable ‘Lessons From a Boat’ team embark on The World’s Toughest Row. Jon, Dan, Jason and Steve will be traversing the Atlantic in a row boat, raising money for Final Straw Foundation and other charities, all whilst gathering vital data on marine plastic waste and teaching live lessons from a boat!

The race commences in La Gomera, and covers 3000 miles of open ocean. 38 crews from across the globe will be competing to reach the finish line, across the Atlantic in Antigua, first. The team will be rowing non-stop for 50 days and nights to cover the astonishing distance, over Christmas and into 2025. The race is unsupported, with crews fending for themselves when battling the elements, each taking different routes across the vast ocean. The team are well informed of the incredible challenge ahead of them. When speaking to the BBC, Jason said ““There will be times when we get hit by storms and we literally have to batten down the hatches and climb into little cabins. “It’ll be like being in a tumble drier in the middle of the ocean. “Most crews make it, some don’t, so it’s not without jeopardy.”. The open ocean can certainly be a frightening place, so we hope for smooth sailing (rowing!) for the team. 

The team consists of four members who are passionate about our oceans and protecting them. Dan, founder and CEO of Circular&Co is passionate about a circular economy. This is where waste products are used for a new purpose instead of disposed of, something we are very enthusiastic about here at Final Straw Foundation. Jason is a physiotherapist and passionate about mental and physical wellbeing. He will be looking after the team during the crossing and educating on how people can stay fit across their whole lifetimes. Jon and Steve are both teachers and will be teaching the ‘lessons from a boat’. The team will be relying on StarLink satellite technology to keep in touch with us on land, and broadcast their lessons. 

In addition to this, the team will be partnering with the International Marine Litter Research Unit at Plymouth University to collect essential data on marine plastic litter. The team’s tracking of plastic waste in the Atlantic ocean will add to a growing body of knowledge on how the plastics industry is affecting our planet. It is crucial work that will hopefully be used to promote circularity and highlight the current issues of plastics and their disposal. This is particularly inspiring when you consider the team will be battling against 40ft seas, and an incredibly physically and mentally demanding challenge. 

The team are raising money for Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK, incredible charities that are doing awesome work. They are also raising money for Final Straw Foundation, for which we are incredibly grateful. They are aiming to raise a whopping £200,000. The sponsorship funds from this challenge will ensure we can continue our crucial marine conservation work into the future.

If you’d like to learn more about the team’s journey, donate, or sponsor, check out the Lessons From a Boat website. They already have some awesome lessons on their site ranging from information on navigation, to the all important question of what they’ll be eating during their crossing.

We would love to say a massive thank you to Dan, Jason, Jon and Steve for taking on this extraordinary feat to raise money for us-  good luck, we will be cheering you on the whole way!