Four women to row across Atlantic to raise £100,000

The ambitious rowers call themselves Rogue, and have set themselves the challenge to row 3,000 miles in a bid raise money for two environmental charities, Project Seagrass and Surfers Against Sewage.

Crew members Maddie Katzinski, 22, Jemima Banks, 22, Jessica Rowe, 25, and Corrine Amos, 27, will be attempting the major venture this December when they will row two hours on and two hours off completely unaided, for up to 96 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary island of La Gomera to Antigua.

Currently studying Politics and Russian at Manchester University, Maddie, 22, from Charmouth, said: "We all feel very connected to the sea."

Childhood friends Maddie, Jemima, who is currently studying Politics and Economics at Edinburgh, and Corrine, who owns a production company in London, all grew up near the coast at Lyme Regis where they spent much of their time swimming, and joked that they cold water swam 'before it was cool'.

Jessica met Jemima whilst she was working on sailing yachts in the Mediterranean. Jessica now lives in Seaton, Devon, where her boyfriend is a boat builder.

Maddie added: "It's safe to say, all of us feel at home by the ocean.

"For now we're building our fitness and endurance, because ultimately by December we will have to be able to row for 12 hours per day, in a two hour on two hour off shift pattern. Once our boat (called Fenris) arrives in March we will keep her in Exmouth and train there. From there it's all about getting as much time in the boat as possible. We've got a rowing coach and will be doing some bespoke training courses.

"We're also doing courses in meteorology, navigation, advanced first aid and sea survival."

She said they are all desperate to raise money for their causes and, as a Dorset-based group, would love to have some local sponsors back them.

She said: "We are raising £100,000 for two amazing charities, Project Seagrass and Surfers Against Sewage."

Project Seagrass is a research-led charity committed to replanting the UK's once abundant seagrass meadows, which sequesters carbon at a significantly higher rate than terrestrial forests.

Surfers Against Sewage is an activist charity who tackle a number of ocean-related issues, but their original and longest running campaign is #endsewagepollution, lobbying to stop UK water companies from dumping raw sewage into the sea and rivers, which over-saturates the seabed with nutrients and kills seagrass.

Maddie said: "We are incredibly passionate about these charities, sustainability is one of our core values which we honour every step of the way through this campaign."

In an attempt to make their journey as carbon neutral as possible, the team won't be flying to La Gomera where their sail starts, but will instead be travelling 1,500 miles to the location in the Canary Islands by train and bike.

She explained: "We are going to be the first carbon-neutral row, reducing our carbon foot print wherever possible, and offsetting the rest using trusted environmental project advisor halo.eco. In order to make our row as meaningful as possible, we are also tracking macro-plastics using Marine Debris Tracking App, developed by Jenna Jambeck and her team at the University of Georgia with whom we have a relationship.

"We are looking for sponsorship in order to make this row possible. Doing the row provides us with a platform to raise the £100,000. We will sell our ocean rowing boat and equipment after the row which will give us around £55,000, the rest will be raised through charity auctions, events and donations from friends and family.

"To everyone in our crew, who has supported us in all kinds of ways. We truly couldn't get to the start line without you and any help is so greatly appreciated."

Sponsorship packages are available to purchase through their website at www.atlanticrogue.co.uk and donations can be made directly to their GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-go-rogue-and-row-3000-miles