WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW

The countdown continues as we keep our eyes on our Team Antigua Island Girls, set to represent Antigua and Barbuda in the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Not only will these women be the first female team from Antigua and the Caribbean to take on the challenge, they will also be the first all-black team in the event, and to row any ocean.

If you missed our introduction article to our Team Antigua Island Girls, check it out here. Currently we have five formidable women who are training toward the challenge, but we’ll see four of them set off on the 3000NM trans-Atlantic row in December. Samara, Christal, Junella, Elvira, and Kevinia have been training non-stop, and recently hit the water again for their 10th practice row. Check out their video feed for rowing coverage.

Junella, 17, youngest of the team and potential record-breaker for youngest female rower, recently graduated from the All Saints Secondary School – congratulations Junella! It’s “back-to-school” though for the team as they start their Essential Navigation and Seamanship Courses needed to take part in the challenge. Over the coming months, training on and off the water will be continuous, and so will fundraising.

To get them to the start line the team needs to raise US$150,000. On Friday they made the incredible announcement that Hadeed Group of Companies has confiremd a sponsorship of US$75,000.

“We would like to thank the Hadeed Group of Companies for, not just the generous donation to our team, but also for the vote of confidence in our quest for an historic Atlantic row. This tangible show of support takes us to the halfway mark of our target, and we are hoping it will cause other companies to follow this lead,” said crewmember Samara Emmanuel.

Once these costs are covered, the team is raising funds through their row for Cottage of Hope, a home for girls who have been abused, neglected, or orphaned. DONATE on their website to see these women to the start line in La Gomera, Canary Islands for the 12th December start of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Check out these articles on the team:
Sir Viv hails Island Girls as Heroes : www.antiguabarbudaislandgirls.com
Antiguan Women set to make rowing history in the Atlantic Ocean : www.ronfanfair.com

Get updates from the Team Antigua Island Girls on their Facebook page, and follow the Atlantic Campaigns Facebook page for all race updates.