Rowing Across Atlantic Solo - Project AIREWAVE

Project Airewave - Rowing across the Atlantic - 3000 miles - La Gomera to Antigua - Solo - Campaigning to support the Rivers Trust Charity.

In December 2025, I will be competing in the World's Toughest Row, a gruelling race setting off from La Gomera where I will be rowing non-stop for 16+ hours daily for at least 40+ days until I reach Antigua.

Why Rivers?

I want to support the Aire Rivers Trust and The Rivers Trust because as a rower at Bradford Amateur Rowing club, I am very closely connected to the river Aire and have spent countless hours rowing on it. Rowing for me is very therapeutic and is something I have come to enjoy doing. However, this experience is ruined when Yorkshire Water spill sewage directly into the Aire and it is not uncommon for plastic bottles and footballs to be floating down it as well. The water quality has gotten so bad that we as a club cannot do capsize drills in our river anymore due to the pollution levels.

Furthermore, it is not just water companies polluting our river, farmers are also having an impact. They cause excess nutrients to be added to the river and combine this with the hotter summers, you get algae blooms. Not only does this affect the ecosystem of the river, but it can also make it impossible to row on. This cancelled the 2023 Boston rowing marathon (49.2km), an event I was looking forward to doing. These events are vital in supporting the local clubs and communities and businesses where these races are held. To some people, these clubs are important in supporting their physical health and mental wellbeing. The dire state of our rivers cuts us off from enjoying our blue spaces and it feels like being back in lockdown.

However, the biggest cause of race cancellations is due to dangerously high river levels brought upon by excess flooding and rain. This is a consequence of climate change bringing about wetter winters and more storms and results in the number of water sessions becoming fewer each year. Especially for those of us who can only get down during the weekends in winter and especially for novice rowers who will not be able to go out in the more challenging conditions and may turned away from rowing.