At 0800 today (Wednesday 11th December) the Royal Navy’s Ocean Rowing team “HMS Oardacious – Valkyries” pushed off into the Atlantic Ocean aiming to become the first ever Royal Navy Women’s team in history to row across an ocean. The team are racing in the Famous World’s Toughest Row – pushing off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to row 3,000miles to Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua (roughly around 40 days later).

  • They will face 40 foot waves, salt sores, sleep deprivation (rowing 2hours on 2hours off, all day every day), sea sickness all whilst dealing with the emotions of being away from their loved ones over Christmas.
  • The HMS Oardacious – Valkyries crew consists of skipper Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson (Marine Engineer – Submariner) and Petty Officer Aaby Aldridge (Survival Equipment Technician) , Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall (Warfare Officer) and Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow (Mine Clearance Diver Officer).
  • The team have been training hard all year, both in the gym and spending weeks on the water on expeditions in their 28ft long Ocean Rowing Boat named “Captain Jim” in loving memory of Royal Navy Captain Jim Simpson who tragically took his own life in 2020.
  • HMS Oardacious was established in 2018 and has already completed 3 successful record breaking Atlantic crossing, The HMS Oardacious Valkyries will become the first ever all women’s Royal Navy team to row across any ocean and they will racing against the British Army’s first ever All-women’s Ocean rowing team ‘Force Atlantic’ in what promises to be an enthralling inter-services race across the Atlantic.

 They are fundraising for two fantastic charities; the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Young Women’s trust:  Team Valkyrie 2024 Atlantic Row | givestar

  • You can follow the team’s updates and progress on the HMS Oardacious Social Media account (Linkedin, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook): @hmsoardacious and on our website www.hmsoardacious.com
  • You can also track their location by downloading the YB Races app on your phones and adding – World’s Toughest Row 2024. This is a fun activity known in the community as “Dot Watching”.

@hmsoardacious