‘More people have been into space or climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic’

An intrepid team of four friends from Bristol will be rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in December, competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and aiming to raise £100,000 for men’s health charity Movember.

Mark Gibson, 29, who lives in Clifton, Southville resident Jon Lakin, 29, and Bristol-born brothers Dan and Steve Baker, 29 and 26, had never rowed before they decided to take the challenge on.

“We wanted to do something where people would look at us and think we were crazy, but then when they saw we had done it, would say ‘fair play’ and wonder if they could do something like it too,” Mark explains. “We learned how to row with City of Bristol Rowing Club, in the harbour.

“At first, we thought we’d have to hit the gym 24/7, but actually it’s been more of a mental challenge than it has been about putting on muscle. We’ve done a number of 36-hour rows during the training, and when you get to 12 or 14 hours and you’re cold and tired and there’s no one else around but you have to keep rowing, it’s having the mental capacity to keep going on, and to function when you’re tired.”

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It’s also mental strength that has inspired this challenge. Each one of the friends says they have been, directly or indirectly, affected by the causes their chosen charity, Movember, stands for, including testicular cancer, prostate cancer, men’s mental health and suicide prevention. For Mark, the experience was personal.

“I developed scoliosis when I was 12, and had to undergo major surgery at the age of about 15,” he explains. “I went through a low period – I was pretty depressed, I had low confidence and I lost friends. When I went off to uni, I finally felt able to open up to my mates and my old self came back. I had been very active growing up, playing tennis and doing cross-country running, but I’d stopped doing any sport. I met some guys at uni and got back into it all.

“I’ve now done a few big challenges, because I wanted to incentivise more people to change themselves. For the first one I dressed as Pacman and ran a half marathon. Then, in the same outfit, I climbed Kilimanjaro with a friend. Now, I’m going to row the Atlantic.”

Mark, Dan, Jon and Steve have been training hard for the challenge

After a full year of preparations, including a gruelling training schedule involving three gym sessions a week, the lads are in the final straight. They leave Bristol on November 22 to make the drive down to Spain, and will set off from the Canary Islands on December 12 2017. They aim to land in Antigua between 40-45 days later, having rowed more than 3,000 miles.

And what is the experience on the boat going to be like? “Incredibly cramped!” Mark says frankly. “When you get into the cabin, there’s barely enough space to kneel. All you can do is lie down. On the water, when we get close to equator, could get up to 40 degrees inside, and we have to keep hatches shut just in case of a capsize. It’s not going to be the most pleasant environment.

“But, having said that, it’s going to be an incredible experience. More people have been into space or climbed Everest than have ever rowed the Atlantic. We’re going to see things that few other people have ever seen, so it really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, there will be times we wonder why we signed up, but when we land it will all be worth it.”

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The team are still short of their target to raise £100,000 for Movember, and are also still selling advertising space on their equipment, including their oars. As a final push, they have organised a gala dinner at Bristol Museum on November 18, where their boat will be on display and all proceeds raised from a raffle will go towards Movember.

So, will they be happy to have this challenge completed? “All our girlfriends will be happy when it’s over!” Mark jokes.

Follow the team on their transatlantic journey and donate to their fundraising target by visiting www.nutsovertheatlantic.co.uk.