3,000 nautical miles, up to 90 days at sea, 1 challenge

Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions are pleased to announce their full support for ‘Team Hesco’ in this year’s ‘Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge’. Team Hesco is one of the ‘pairs', or two-man ocean rowing teams, taking part this December in what is commonly dubbed 'the world's toughest row’, a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The team, who are hoping to raise £100,000 for charity, includes Theo Jones (27, Great Britain) and Shane Chadwick (34, Australia). They will be competing against 30 other teams all aiming to complete the 3,000 nautical mile race in around 60 days. On leaving La Gomera in the Canary Islands where the race starts, they will be rowing day and night, in two-hour shifts nonstop and unassisted until they reach the Caribbean island of Antigua. 

More people have been into Space or climb Everest than successfully rowed the Atlantic

We will follow their progress as they row across the Atlantic and on completion of the journey, will interview both Theo and Shane to find out first-hand the highs and lows of such an adventure. Many of us dream of doing something as unequivocal as an ocean row, for most the opportunity to do so never arises, through Theo and Shane we hope to give you our readers an insight into what such an epic adventure entails. 

Who are Team Hesco? How can we support?

Theo Jones, originally from Winchester in England, grew up in a large family of high sporting achievers and he himself has set long distance running records, and represented his county (Dorset) in the National Cross Country Running Championship. Educated at Milton Abbey School in rural Dorset, Theo discovered a love of the outdoors, adventure and sport. These passions remain and he is now an 'Officer of the Watch Chief Mate' and certainly has his sea legs with 5 years' experience under his belt in the super yacht industry. Theo is excited about setting off on what he hopes will be 'the adventure of a lifetime’. 

Shane Chadwick, who hails from Perth, Western Australia, is a dogged, tenacious man with an incredible sense of determination. Bringing his engineering background and super yacht industry experience to the table, he is perhaps the perfect team mate, and together both Theo and Shane make an excellent team. 

Team Hesco take their name from their main sponser: Hesco, an engineering firm who specialise in building defense and marine flood barriers. 

The boys have been training furiously over the last few weeks and months, and are becoming well accustomed to the long stints that they will need to put in on their crossing. For the last two weeks they have been enjoying some late summer sunshine whilst rowing hard in and around the Cote d'Azur in the Mediterranean Sea (taking the time to reward themselves for their hard efforts by attending the glamorous Monaco Yacht Show - a spectacle of all things 'luxury' in its own right).

Two great charities - Theo and Shane are hoping to raise £100,000. Show your support here! 

Team Hesco have two designated charities for which they are hoping to raise a total of £100,000. The first is 'The Not Forgotten Association' a charity that provides much needed entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick, and for ex-service men and women with disabilities. Each year the charity supports approximately 10,000 individuals of all ages, whenever and wherever they have served.

The second charitable organisation is  'The Think Fragile X Foundation', which aims to raise awareness of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and Autism.

For more information on donating to Team Hesco’s chosen charities and to make a donation to show your support, please visit their site: www.atlanticvoyager2015.com.

Stay tuned for more information on this exciting adventure and of course look out for our post race interview early next year. Truly a remarkable achievement and a journey that will no doubt have some memorable moments – we wish Theo and Shane all the best!