Last week at Northwood House, team Mermaid Atlantic held a special event to say thank you to their sponsors.
Mermaid Atlantic is the team of three Islanders who, in a few months’ time, will be rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in order to raise awareness and funds for ocean preservation. Listen to our podcast with Zavier Baker — one of the three taking part in the challenge.
Mustang Survival: Technical waterproof apparel
News OnTheWight caught up with one of the sponsors, Joel Chadwick from Mustang Survival. The company is supplying the team with all the marine apparel they’ll need for the 30-60 day row across the ocean: from technical waterproofs, to mid layers, to UV protective layers.
Joel explained,
“Mustang Survival is quite a new brand to the UK and European market in many ways, but they’ve been established for 55 years. They’re based in Vancouver, Canada, and dominate the marine market in North America. Just over 12 months ago they launched outside of North America for the first time, and so are quite a new brand over here. But gosh, the technicality of that kit is quite exceptional.
“Their heritage is actually supplying US and Canadian Special Forces, with a kind of military-range waterproof kit, like dry suits, all the way through to life jackets.”
No greater test for kit
The Mermaid Atlantic team are going to be up against some pretty gnarly weather during their challenge and according to Joel they are already putting the kit through its paces. He says the team have been genuinely pleased at the performance of the kit and are “raving about it”.
There probably isn’t a greater test of the kit than used when crossing the Atlantic. Joel agreed, adding,
“They’re going to have the worst of the squalls. So they’re going to have horizontal rain. Flooding, high, high winds, they’re going to have saltwater waves crashing over onto them.
“We’ll probably see that as the worst, but on those days where there’s no winds, the UV and the sun, you need protection. Oh my goodness. So I think you’re right and there probably isn’t a greater test in some ways, because they’re going to have it all quite literally and you know, you add on top of that, they’re going to be so active.
“They’re constantly rowing, two hours on, two hours off. You know, so they’re perspiring, they’re hot, they’re sweaty. And so the clothing lets the sweat out, it wicks moisture and is very, very breathable.”
Unique waterproof rating
Joel went on to explain a bit more about the clothing,
“Which is another point. Technical fabrics, for all the key brands that you know in the market at the moment, yes, they’re waterproof. Yes, they’re breathable. But I think there’s, there’s a real point of difference with Mustang Survival, which is that they’re extremely lightweight. And the breathability matches a very high waterproof rating, which is quite unique, actually.
“But they’re going to test it in the worst conditions and I’m excited to see if they’re going to have smiling faces when they arrive in Antigua, or the opposite, but probably a well deserved rum, or perhaps a gin right?
“It’s great to be joining them here in Cowes and be part of that journey.”
Listen to the podcast
You can listen to the full interview with Joel by clicking on the play button below
