Trio from UAE to row across Atlantic to raise awareness of marine pollution

Three UAE residents will set off next week on an “adventure of a lifetime” across the Atlantic Ocean in a small boat without an engine.

They will row approximately 5,000km for around 53 days across the Atlantic to complete the gruelling voyage in a bid to raise awareness about marine pollution.

Toby Gregory, 44, an ultra-endurance athlete from the UK; James Raley, 43, a British Army veteran and adventure travel enthusiast; and Rai Tamagnini, 48, a four-time Ironman and mountaineer from Portugal, make up the Arabian Ocean Rowing team that is undertaking the adventure.

They will set off from La Gomera, off the coast of Africa, on December 12 and row to Antigua in the Caribbean. They are teaming up with the UN Environment Programme’s Clean Seas campaign for the challenge.

“We will be completely at the mercy of the winds and waves. There is no engine on board and we have to battle the currents day and night,” Mr Gregory, the team’s founder, told The National.

“More people have been to space or have climbed Mount Everest. That is why this is a rare chance to do something unique for the planet.”

The team will be completely unsupported during the expedition and will have to rely entirely on desalinated seawater to drink, solar energy to power batteries and electronics, and they will have only power bars and dried food to eat.

“When you have to spend 53 days…