Three friends from the Isle of Wight, UK, have come together for the ultimate ocean encounter.
With shared passions for the environment and exploration, the Mermaid Atlantic team will compete in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2023, rowing to raise awareness of the preservation of ocean habitats and to raise funds for marine-focused environmental charities.
Plastic pollution and protection of seagrass meadows
The world’s climate crisis is a shared concern for the three teammates, who all embrace the sea as part of their everyday lives. They aim to raise awareness for two issues, water quality, including plastic pollution, and the protection of seagrass meadows which are home to native seahorses and incredible carbon sinks.
The team will be actively selecting sustainable suppliers and will seek out and refurbish an older Rannoch boat to minimise their impact on the environment and to highlight the effect waste disposal and human activity is having on the natural world.
Mermaid Atlantic will be raising funds for The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Surfers Against Sewage and the Seahorse Trust.
Three men in a boat
Chris Mannion, Paul Berry (who rowed single-handedly around the Isle of Wight in July 2018) and Xavier Baker (Isle of Wight Distillery) were brought together through their love of the water, and between surfing, scuba diving and rowing they’ve forged a friendship.
Though two-thirds of the team are novices, they hope their shared determination will equal success under the guidance and instruction of Berry, a well-seasoned rower. The team will row in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes during the race.
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge presents the team members with the chance to embark on a mental and physical adventure while raising funds for marine causes they are passionate about.
Baker: Know not to underestimate the sea
Xavier Baker, Mermaid Atlantic crewmate, commented,
“We are all focused and determined chaps with a good understanding of the sea and certainly know not to underestimate her.
“While we each have our personal reasons for undertaking such an exciting and challenging adventure, we’re united in our passion for preserving the oceans and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to undertake the Atlantic challenge to spotlight these causes.”
Departing from Canary Islands
Embarking on ‘the world’s toughest row’, the team will leave La Gomera in the Canary Islands in December 2023.
They will need to row 3,000 miles around the clock to cross the Atlantic and arrive in Antigua within 35 days to break the record in their class. The team is backed by Isle of Wight spirit brand Mermaid Gin as the headline sponsor.
Find out more
To find out more about donation and sponsorship please visit the Website or contact [email protected]
Follow the Mermaid Atlantic team’s adventure on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. More information regarding the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge can be found at the Talisker Website.
News shared by Poppy on behalf of Isle of Wight Distillery. Ed
