After Lara Vafiadis (8.03-06) completed her solo row of the Atlantic earlier this year, little did we know that another Old Malvernian was already plotting to do the same. Enter Sam Glover (5.90-92) who has signed up to take on the ambitious challenge of rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic this December.
Did you know fewer people have rowed an ocean than have travelled to space or summited Everest? Sam will be rowing across the Atlantic in a 24 foot boat, without a sail or motor – just with oars, blood, sweat and tears – for the duration of the crossing. For much of the voyage, the nearest human beings will be in the international space station.
What if someone told you that the weather would throw storms, extreme heat and 40-foot waves in your path, and that such a foolhardy endeavour would invariably beget sea sickness, salt sores, crippling blisters, dehydration, sunstroke, hallucinations and the odd boat capsizing. And to top it off, they then say that you’d be enduring all this for charity?
40 teams from around the world will take part in the race and Sam will be launching from San Sebastian in La Gomera, this December. He will then row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic until he reaches Antigua in the Caribbean.
There is no engine, there are no sails, this is human power alone. Once Sam pushes off from shore he will be completely unassisted and self-sufficient. He’ll convert sea water into fresh water using a desalinator, carry hundreds of packets of dehydrated meals, and row in long stints each day.
Nobody can predict what the conditions will be like – but giant waves, sharks, storms and the threat of a marlin spearing the boat are all very real possibilities.
Sam’s extensive maritime, rallying, and navigation skills will be essential to the successful completion of this challenge, in his boat The Entrepreneur Ship!
Through this amazing row, Sam is hoping to raise £250,000 for charity, raising vital funds for UnLtd -The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. You can support his journey by making a donation here.
You can also follow Sam’s incredible voyage via his social media posts at Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
We wish Sam the best of luck!