Blog Flashbay to sponsor Atlantic Ambition

We are excited to announce that Flashbay are now proud sponsors of Atlantic Ambition who will be competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge on the 12th December 2019. The competition encompasses a 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ambition are 4 school friends who will be embarking on a 3,000 mile row row across the Atlantic Ocean to help raise money for ocean conservation charities including Marine Conservation Society and The Surfrider Foundation Australia. Jon Merotra, Ewan Bell, Ed Wilson and James Protherough former RGS Worcester Pupils who now live on opposite Hemispheres will compete against 30 other teams from around the world.



“The race is known as ‘The World's Toughest Row’ as the teams brave the elements such as hurricane strength winds and 50ft swells. As it stands, more people have been into space than have rowed the Atlantic” said James. “The added physical strain of exhaustion, sleep deprivation and possible hallucination tests the extremes of teamwork and humankind. By undertaking such an enormous challenge, our aim is to meaningfully support the amazing work our charities are doing and help turn the tide on plastic pollution.”

To take the challenge one step further, the team have also been working in collaboration with a US based company called Smartfin, to adapt their innovative surfboard fin for use on their ocean rowing boat.

“Smartfin is a surfboard fin with oceanographic sensors, it is designed to collect data for researchers/scientists,” said Kat Hammond from Smartfin. “We also use Smartfin as a tool to engage communities in conversation about climate change and the impact it has on the oceans.”

“In carrying out this epic adventure Atlantic Ambition will not only raising money which helps us protect and clean up our amazing blue planet, but they are also carrying out valuable research along the way with the SmartFin technology” said Katherine Stephenson, from Marine Conservation Society.



This will be the first time this type of data has been collected across an entire ocean by an ocean rowing boat, and the team hope it can make a significant contribution to our understanding of the oceans and shorelines.

If you would like to find more out about this epic challenge, please visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.