Three Scottish women are preparing to row across the Atlantic Ocean in a challenge known as the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic, despite none of them being experienced rowers. The team, consisting of doctor Jenna Volpert and physiotherapists Ellen Clark and Lauren Wilde-Arnold, are friends and former flatmates from Dundee. They took delivery of their boat, the Crean, an 8.6-metre Rannoch R45 designed for crews of three to five people, ahead of their planned departure this December.

The race covers approximately 3,000 miles, beginning in La Gomera in the Canary Islands and finishing in Antigua in the Caribbean. The trio will face significant challenges, including waves up to 40 feet high, unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation, and salt sores. They will row in shifts of up to three hours around the clock, relying primarily on their own resilience and preparation, with only satellite communication to maintain contact with race organizers.

None of the women have prior rowing experience; Clark described the team as “complete novices” who have had to learn everything from scratch. They have backgrounds in endurance sports such as running, triathlons, swimming, and cycling, with some coastal sailing experience. Volpert initially signed up for the race with two other teammates who later left to focus on the 2028 Olympics. She then invited her housemates to join her in taking on the challenge.

The team aims to complete the crossing in under 40 days and hopes to set a new world record, though they acknowledge that weather conditions will be a critical factor. Their motivation is driven by a love of adventure and the scale of the challenge, which is significantly more demanding than previous expeditions they have undertaken.

Volpert noted that while the physical rowing will be tough, the preparation and training represent the greatest hurdle. The crew has been training intensively to build the necessary stamina and skills. They will be self-sufficient during the race, carrying supplies designed to last up to 60 days.

Following the competition, the trio plans to sell the boat and equipment, with the proceeds going to the Archie Foundation, a charity supporting sick children and their families. The race is scheduled to start on 12 December, when weather conditions are expected to be most favorable for the crossing.