Guy Rigby and David Murray are now the oldest pair on planet earth to row any ocean.

Thanks to our principal sponsor, Smith & Williamson, and our generous platinum sponsor Crowdcube.

Helping to change the world for the better.

“The World’s Toughest Row”

The Entrepreneur Ship
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2021

It was the summer of 2019. Guy had just turned 66 and was ready for a new challenge. Having spent most of his life working with and advising entrepreneurs, he had recently become much more interested in the concept of social entrepreneurship, where people and planet, as well as profit, are at the centre of the business agenda. This is the so-called “triple bottom line” and the domain of the social entrepreneur.

Fundraising to enable and support this great cause quickly became Guy’s focus and, with no desire (or capability) to climb a mountain or run multiple marathons, Guy settled on the idea of a water-based activity. Having started rowing at Marlow Rowing Club on the Thames in 2014, rowing seemed like an appropriate choice.

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge beckoned and a chance telephone call with the son of a friend who had recently succumbed to cancer yielded an enthusiastic response. So it was that David, an extreme sports enthusiast and a strong supporter of entrepreneurship, joined the crew.

Guy and David will set off to row the 3,000 miles from the Canaries to Antigua in December 2021. They hope to arrive in February, 2022. If they are successful, as records currently stand, they will be the oldest pair ever to row any ocean.

OUR ROUTE

Supporting social entrepreneurs

Purpose

The purpose of our challenge is to raise awareness of the benefits of entrepreneurship in all its aspects, while focusing on the development of social entrepreneurs and raising funds for a charity that finds, funds and supports them.

Guy Rigby & David Murray

The Crew

Guy was a great friend of David's father, Richard.  They raced their Salcombe Yawl together over many years and enjoyed numerous other adventures. In 2018, Richard passed away from cancer after a long and challenging fight. Guy and David stayed in touch and, following a chance telephone call, Guy shared his idea to row across the Atlantic.

TWAC

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

TWAC is the world’s toughest rowing race. Crews test the limit of their physical and mental strength to achieve the unthinkable, rowing 3,000 miles unaided across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Entrepreneur Ship

The Boat

The boat we have chosen for the row is a Rannoch 25. Built in 2019 and christened as Lily, she is a 24-foot ocean rowing boat with a beam of 5’ 7”. Lily is The Entrepreneur Ship and will be our home for what we hope will be a sub-60 day crossing.

Sponsorship

Find out how your business can get involved!

Guy and David are self-funding the entry fee to Atlantic Campaigns, the organisers of The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.  This includes logistics, safety, race support, PR and media.

Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and investment management group, has been secured as the team’s principal sponsor.

Sponsorship brings many benefits, including awareness and association with our cause. Please get in touch to find out more.

What Alex from Force Atlantic said about the 2019 race..

We thought we were prepared. We thought we were in good nick, with good kit, and that we had mental resilience up the yazoo with our military backgrounds. We were wrong. There was nothing in our preparation or pasts, that had a stitch at what crossing the Atlantic in a rowing boat demanded of us.

We each went through lows on the crossing - some more than others - but the highs were incredible. The relentless suffering, interspersed with moments of white hot fear, were all but forgotten in the tranquility and spiritual peace of life on the boat.

Alex from Force Atlantic who spent 37 days at sea rowing across the Atlantic Ocean