AWEsome People: An Interview with Atlantic Fusion 2024

Jan 11, 2025 BY Mark Pawlak

Part of our ongoing series highlighting extraordinary adventurers making their mark.

Welcome to AWEsome People, where we spotlight incredible individuals and teams pushing the boundaries of human endurance, adventure, and resilience. This week, we’re bringing you an exclusive mid-Atlantic interview with Atlantic Fusion 2024, a team currently rowing over 3,000 nautical miles in The World’s Toughest Row (formerly, the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge).

4 person rowing team from Atlantic Fusion smiling and raising hands in celebration while out on the open sea

Race Facts

Here’s what makes the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge one of the toughest endurance events in the world:

  • Distance: Over 3,000 miles from San Sebastián de La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua.
  • Oar Strokes: Teams row over 1.5 million strokes to complete the journey.
  • Wave Height: Waves can reach up to 20 feet high during the crossing.
  • Wildlife Encounters: Participants often spot dolphins, whales, and even bioluminescent plankton.
  • Caloric Burn: Rowers burn over 5,000 calories a day on average.
  • Weight Loss: Most rowers lose approximately 8 kg during the crossing.
  • Record Time: The fastest crossing was completed in 29 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes by The Four Oarsmen.

This remarkable race is not just a test of endurance but also a mission to raise awareness and funds for Abbie’s Army, a UK-based charity supporting research into Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a devastating children’s brain cancer.

Here’s the team’s Just Giving link, please consider chipping in to help: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/atlantic-fusion

Such an endeavor wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors. A special thank you to their Gold Sponsor, UK Postbox, whose backing has been instrumental in making this adventure a reality. Additional support from Antares as well as Dunlop and The Arc in Poole Park has been invaluable in helping the team prepare, fundraise, and reach the start line. We’ve not covered much rowing here; I think it’s about time we added it to our list of adventure sports.

Rowers from Atlantic Fusion take a break on board, sat with rows on their boat out at sea

Interview with Atlantic Fusion straight from the mid-Atlantic

1. What has been your lowest and highest point so far ?

  • Team: “The lowest was probably the first week. It was mentally tough, with very big waves, and everyone was struggling to eat. The highest has probably been Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when we got in for a swim to clean the boat’s hull!”

2. Rowing over 3,000 miles is an education in itself. What have you learned about rowing and teamwork while out at sea?

  • Team: “Teamwork is more about communication than anything. The smallest thing can become the biggest issue out here. We have daily team meetings (while still rowing) to discuss how things went over the previous 24 hours. We talk about all issues and deal with everything ASAP.”

3. Every bit of kit matters when you’re in the middle of the Atlantic. What items of kit can you absolutely not do without on the boat?

  • Team: “Our water maker and batteries have been absolutely essential. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this!”
Equipment and stores layed out in front of a large atlantic rowing boat

4. Dave, about that flask—are you still thinking about it? Do you dream about it bobbing up and down on the waves at night?

  • Dave: “The flask was a treacherous deserter and got what it deserved. It now swims with the fishes! Luckily, Annika had a spare flask. 😃”

5. You’ve all had diverse experiences in life. What was your personal motivation to sign up for this race?

  • Team: “Each of our motivations are very different, but chasing adventure and putting the body and mind to the test is a common one amongst us.”
Team of rowers in the middle of the Atlantic smiling and opening rations to eat

6. The logistics for an adventure like this must be intense. From fundraising to boat prep, what was the hardest part of organizing everything?

  • Team: “All aspects of the three years leading up to even getting to the start line were so hard: fundraising and promotional events, designing and creating the website, and fitting in the required training hours. These all resulted in huge time commitments and sacrifices of time with family. There were also personal challenges, like Annika tearing her ACL in March 2024.”

7. How are your bodies holding up, and how have they changed since you started rowing?

  • Team: “We’ve each lost weight, but the bodies are holding up! Aches and pains in the legs and backs, and some sore feet, hands, and bums.”

8. Being out on the vast ocean, you must see some amazing sights. Have you come across anything surprising or inspiring that has stayed with you?

  • Team: “The sunrises and sunsets have been pretty beautiful, but we’ve each been enthralled by the stars, which are so vivid due to the lack of light pollution.”

9. What has been the most emotionally difficult moment for you so far?

  • Team: “Missing our families has been really tough for each of us. The first two weeks were very hard with big seas and everything being constantly soaked. Recovering from the boat being flipped on its side also took a while mentally.”

10. You’re going to make it! But when it’s done and you’re home, do you think there’s anything you’ll actually miss about life on the boat?

  • Team: “We’re going to miss each other! And just the simplicity of it all. Annika and Dave have mentioned missing the clicking sound of our harness clips—Bel and Molly aren’t so sure about that, haha.”

Track Their Progress

Follow Atlantic Fusion 2024’s journey in real-time through the tracker below. Witness their daily progress, challenges, and triumphs as they make their way across the Atlantic:

Access the tracker via World’s Toughest Row Race Tracker.

Map of Atlantic with small nautical icons representing boats in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge

Follow Team Atlantic Fusion 2024

Stay connected with the team and their progress:

Instagram homepage of Atlantic Fusion 2024

Join the conversation using #AtlanticFusion2024, #TWAC2024, and #AWEsomePeople.


Stay Tuned for More AWEsome Stories

Inspired by this interview then check out our top 10 adventures of 2025. Don’t miss the next installment in our AWEsome People series as we continue to highlight adventurers taking on extraordinary challenges around the globe.

Have suggestions for future features? Let us know at [email protected] or tag us on social media using #AWEsomePeople.

 
Antigua And Barbuda, Canary Islands, La Gomera
Rafting
Atlantic Fusion 2024, Atlantic Rowing, Awesome People
Interviews
 

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