Rowing teams set to race around Great Britain in epic endurance and environmental challenge

• Rowers will collect data on ocean health and pollution levels
• Fewer than 30 people have rowed continuously and unsupported around Great Britain
• Previous GB Row Challenge expeditions have found higher levels of microplastic pollution and rising sea temperatures

Two crews will set off from Tower Bridge in London at 2pm on Sunday (14th June) to take on one of the world's toughest rowing races, the GB Row Challenge, a non-stop circumnavigation of Great Britain by rowing boat.

The challenge will see teams Rowmads and Nautilus attempt to row 2,000 miles around the British coastline, battling unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and demanding sea conditions. 

As they row, the teams will gather information on ocean health and pollution levels. This data will be analysed by scientists at the University of Portsmouth before being shared through The Crown Estate's Marine Data Exchange, an open-access resource which is one of the world's largest collections of marine industry data. 

GB Row Challenge Founder, William de Laszlo, has completed the challenge twice. He said: “I am incredibly excited to see these two teams take on this year’s GB Row Challenge and combine an extraordinary sporting feat with the collection of critical data about the challenges facing Britain's coastal waters. 

“This exceptional group of people is embarking on something truly remarkable. More than 7,000 people have climbed Everest, yet fewer than 30 have rowed continuously and unsupported around Great Britain.”

The teams face weeks at sea, rowing in shifts around the clock as they attempt to complete what is described as the world’s toughest rowing race.

Rowmads is made up of three military doctors, including two brothers who serve as a trauma surgeon and a firefighter, and a fitness coach. 

Nautilus brings together a team with backgrounds spanning healthcare, sustainability, education and environmental management.

Nautilus skipper Aoife Luscombe returns after being forced to abandon her 2024 attempt on the Cornish coast and is determined to complete the journey this year.

Aoife said: “I am excited to take on the GB Row Challenge again this year, it's a privilege to see the Great British coastline from an entirely new perspective. The challenge itself will test us, mentally and physically, but knowing that we are collecting vital data and samples on ocean health will make every stroke, storm and sunrise that much more rewarding!”

The rowers gather data on microplastic pollution, biodiversity, underwater noise pollution, sea temperature and salinity, which will contribute to ongoing research efforts aimed at understanding the impacts of human activity on marine ecosystems and informing strategies for conservation and sustainability.

Previous GB Row Challenge expeditions have uncovered higher levels of microplastic pollution and rising sea temperatures. Scientists analysing the data are creating a valuable long-term record of changing conditions in UK coastal waters. 

The data collected during the 2024 race found that microplastic pollution in waters around Great Britain was significantly higher than previously recorded. Average concentrations reached 59 microplastic particles per cubic metre of seawater, more than double the levels measured in comparable surveys in 2022 and 2023. 

Professor Fay Couceiro, expert in biogeochemistry and environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth and lead scientist for GB Row Challenge, said: "The data collected during this expedition will provide a valuable window into the health of Britain's coastal waters and help us better understand the environmental pressures these ecosystems face. 

“Scientific research often depends on observations gathered across vast areas and long periods of time, and that is where citizen science can make such a powerful contribution.

I am very grateful to the two teams and their commitment to help generate information that could benefit marine research for years to come.”

Both Rowmads and Nautilus have spent months preparing for the challenge through extensive physical training, safety exercises, logistical planning and over 200 hours at sea. 

As they depart from Tower Bridge on Sunday afternoon, supporters are encouraged to come along and cheer the crews on as they begin their extraordinary journey around Great Britain.

This year’s joint headline sponsors are Cleaner Seas Group and Simply Sustainable - two organisations focused on advancing practical solutions to environmental challenges.