After a long and challenging road with many COVID-19 related obstacles, the fleet of 2020 successfully made it out to La Gomera for the start of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC).

I have nothing but pure admiration for anyone who successfully creates, builds and runs a successful ocean rowing campaign and gets to the start line of their respective ocean/route. The age-old saying springs to mind: “The hardest part of rowing an ocean is getting to start line” … while that isn’t always the case there has never been a year where it would be more appropriate with all of the extra Covid hurdles, brick walls, barbwire and booby traps. So, to see all 21 boats lined up in La Gomera ready for 2 weeks of careful preparation genuinely made me quite emotional. I am so pleased for every single rower and team who made it! There are many that didn’t … to those rowers you have my sincerest of condolences. I too have experienced my own Covid ocean row postponement with the Latitude35 team in the Great Pacific Race 2020 so I can relate and I empathise whole heartedly. Your patience and perseverance now will be rewarded, keep focussed and keep driving forward … you will be stronger, wiser and even more prepared to tackle your ocean when the time comes.