Row Aurora

🎉 THE FINISH LINE IS SET… AND IT’S GOING TO BE EPIC! 🎉 We haven’t even set off yet… and already we’re planning the arrival party of a lifetime 😍🌊 So how on earth can we fix a date for something as unpredictable as an ocean row? 👉 Simple… we’ve built it into the plan. We’ve allowed plenty of time to reach the south coast of the UK, meaning: ⛵ If we’re ahead of schedule, we can slow things down, anchor up, and make a more leisurely approach 🌊 Ride the right weather and tides 📍 And arrive exactly when we want to And that moment will be: 📅 Saturday 29th August 2026 🕐 1300hrs (1pm) 🌊 On the incoming tide 🎉 Right at the start of Burnham Week This isn’t just a finish… it’s a full-on celebration: 🚤 Flotilla escort down the River Crouch 🎺 Yacht club cannons firing 📺 TV & radio coverage 🍻 Crowds lining the waterfront 🔥 And a proper hometown welcome After thousands of miles across the Atlantic, we won’t just be arriving… 👉 we’ll be rowing into something unforgettable This is more than a finish line. This is homecoming. ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and phoenixheroes

Thank you @rowaurora for an incredible session helping us prepare to row across the Atlantic Ocean @worlds.toughest.row Thank you to everyone who has helped us get here. All kit is from @vaikobi and @noora_ocean In aid of @coppafeel and @womeninsport_uk #worldstoughestrow #oceanrowing #womeninsport

⚓️ St John’s & Titanic – A Powerful Connection 🌊 As we prepare to depart from St John’s, Newfoundland, it’s hard to ignore the deep historical connection this place has with one of the most famous maritime events in history — the sinking of the Titanic. This month marks the anniversary of the disaster, which happened 114 years ago in April 1912. What many people don’t realise is just how important St John’s was in the story that followed: 📡 It was one of the first places to receive the Titanic’s distress signals 🌍 It became a communications hub, helping relay the news to the world 🚢 It served as a base for recovery operations 🛟 And ships from Newfoundland were among the first on scene in the aftermath Standing on the edge of the Atlantic here, you’re very aware that this stretch of ocean holds both incredible beauty… and powerful history. It’s a reminder of the importance of preparation, respect for the sea, and the strength of the maritime community — values that are just as relevant today as they were back then. ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and phoenixheroes #phoenixheroes #phoenixheroescic

It’s always a good day when you spend time with this lady. ♥️🤘

🌊 Another Course Complete for Future Ocean Rowers 🌊 A fantastic few days at Aurora Sea School, delivering the full set of mandatory RYA courses required for anyone taking part in the World’s Toughest Row. Huge congratulations to: 👏 Ash Family Row 👏 Remiges V 👏 Amy & Ran …who all successfully completed: ✅ RYA First Aid ✅ RYA Sea Survival ✅ SRC (VHF Radio) ✅ RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship These courses aren’t just a box-ticking exercise — they are critical skills that could make all the difference at sea. From handling emergencies and understanding weather, to communicating effectively and making sound navigational decisions, this training forms the foundation of a safe and successful ocean row. It’s always a privilege to work with such motivated teams at the start of their journey. The commitment, teamwork, and enthusiasm shown over the course has been outstanding — and we’ll be watching your progress closely 👀 If you’re planning an ocean row and need to complete your RYA courses, we offer a structured package designed specifically for ocean rowers, delivered by instructors with real expedition experience. 📩 Get in touch to secure your place and start your journey the right way.

🧊 Iceberg Alley 🌊 As we prepare to row from Newfoundland to the UK, one of the most fascinating — and challenging — parts of the route is Iceberg Alley. Icebergs break away from Greenland and drift south past Newfoundland, carried by the Labrador Current. Some are enormous… others are small, low in the water, and much harder to spot. 👀 Can we track them? Yes — to a degree. Satellite data, aerial surveys, and reports from vessels help build a picture, allowing us to plan and avoid the main areas. But they’re constantly moving, and conditions like fog and sea state can make things more difficult. ⚠️ The real risk? Not the giant icebergs — you can usually see those. It’s the smaller fragments that sit low in the water. For us it’s about: 👉 Constant lookout 👉 Smart routing 👉 Respect for the ocean An incredible part of the world… but not one to underestimate. ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and phoenixheroes #phoenixheroes #phoenixheroescic #phoenixheroesfamily #phoenixheroespatron

🍿ATLANTIC 2025/26 – What a journey! ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain to anybody, what this experience was like……’ -Solo rower Daragh MacLoughlin Watch it. Feel it. Get inspired.🎥 43 incredible teams, 20 different countries🌎 ↘️Still can’t get enough of the World’s Toughest Row?↙️ 💥Pacific 2026 Race Start June 6th 💥Atlantic 2026 Race Start December 12th •••••••••••••••• #oceanrowing #WorldsToughestRow #atlantic2026 #pacific2026

What a night… 🌊✨ Last night Paul Lore and I attended the World’s Toughest Row prize giving at the Mayfair Hotel in London, and it was nothing short of incredible. With so many teams in the room — including those fresh from the Pacific 2025 race — the atmosphere was electric. A room full of people who have all faced the ocean, pushed their limits, and come out the other side with stories that will last a lifetime. It’s hard to put into words just how special it is to be surrounded by so many like-minded individuals, all connected by one thing… the sea. A huge congratulations to every single team — whether Atlantic or Pacific — your achievements are nothing short of epic. 💙 Nights like this remind us exactly why we do it. ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and @phoenixheroes .

🏁 Competition Results – Guess Our Arrival Time! 🌊 Firstly… apologies for the delay in announcing the winners — it’s been a bit of a whirlwind since landing back on dry land and getting everything unpacked, sorted, and back to reality! 😅 Now for the results… Our official finish time was: 👉 25 January – 16:19 UTC (12:19 Antigua time) 👉 Elapsed time: 42 days, 4 hours, 19 minutes A huge thank you to everyone who took part — we loved seeing all your guesses and support along the way. 💙 And the winners are… 🥇 Tom Sadler – Wins £250 cash, a Row Aurora T-shirt, and a metal Hometown Row pin 💰👕📌 🥈 Emma Greetham – Wins £50 cash, a Row Aurora T-shirt, and a metal Hometown Row pin 💰👕📌 🥉 Stuart Macdonald – Wins a Row Aurora T-shirt and a metal Hometown Row pin 👕📌 Congratulations! 🎉 We’ll be in touch shortly to arrange your prizes. ⸻ 👀 What’s next…? We’ll be launching a brand new competition soon for the Canada 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch 🇬🇧 leg, with cash prizes, T-shirts, pins and more up for grabs as the pot grows 👀 So keep an eye out and get your guesses ready… The journey continues 🌊 ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and @phoenixheroes .

The countdown is ON ⏳🌊 It’s official… the next leg is getting very real. Flights are booked — I’ll be heading out to St John’s, Newfoundland on 20th June 🇨🇦, which means we’re now at just over 11 weeks to go. Launch day is planned for 25th June… which also happens to be my birthday 🎂 — not a bad way to celebrate! Behind the scenes, the work continues. Over in the US, Paul is busy tackling the next big logistical challenge — getting Penny B from Florida up to Canada ready for the start line. As always with expeditions, there are a lot of moving parts, but everything is now starting to come together. Training, preparation, planning… and a growing sense that we’ll soon be back out on the ocean. Let the countdown begin. 🌊 ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and @phoenixheroes . #K9sForWarriors #k9sforwarriors

A moment I never thought I’d experience… 🌊 The other evening I had the absolute honour of meeting Douglas Robertson — and I have to say, I was completely overwhelmed. For years, while teaching Sea Survival, I’ve shared the story of the Lucette to talk about one of the most powerful forces at sea — the will to survive. The Lucette, a 43ft wooden schooner built in Burnham-on-Crouch, was attacked and sunk by orcas in 1972, 200 miles west of the Galápagos Islands. What followed is one of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told. A family of six… 38 days adrift… A dinghy and an inflatable raft… Against all odds, they survived. And the person standing in front of me the other evening — Douglas — lived it. I’ve told that story so many times in the classroom, never imagining that one day I’d meet someone who was actually there. It was one of those full-circle moments that really stops you in your tracks. Even more incredible, 41 people are alive today because of the Japanese fishing boat captain who rescued them — and Douglas was able to meet that captain just a couple of years ago. 🙏🏻 Stories like this remind you that survival at sea is never just about equipment or training… it’s about mindset, resilience, and the refusal to give up. A truly humbling experience I won’t forget. ❤️ ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and @phoenixheroes .

What an incredible evening… 🌟 Last night I had the absolute pleasure of speaking at “A Night of Adventures” — and what a brilliant event it was. A huge thank you to the organisers for bringing together such an inspiring evening and for supporting the fantastic charity @ToughEnoughToCare . Events like this really do make a difference. It was an honour to share the stage with such an amazing group of speakers — each with their own incredible story of resilience, determination, and pushing beyond limits: 🏊‍♂️ Kevin Murphy — 34 English Channel swims… just phenomenal 🏃‍♂️ Martin Cruickshank — @sadling_up_anyway fresh from the Marathon des Sables 🚣‍♂️ Darren — Amazon rower and endurancelimits founder. ⛰️ Allan Meek — Everest climber proving it’s never too late 🛶 Dan Smith — survivalist and Yukon paddler Hearing everyone’s stories really reinforces something I truly believe — adventure isn’t reserved for a select few… it’s possible for anyone willing to step outside their comfort zone. Thank you to everyone who came along, listened, and supported. Nights like this remind me why I love sharing these experiences. ❤️ ⸻ Follow us as we @rowaurora prepare to row unsupported West to East from St John’s, Newfoundland 🇨🇦 to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK 🇬🇧, continuing our mission of connecting communities across the Atlantic in support of @k9sforwarriors and @phoenixheroes .