Rowing for the Ocean: Meet the Give Us A Wave Team
On 12th December 2025, a team of four determined rowers will set off on an extraordinary challenge: the World’s Toughest Row.
This 3,000-mile race across the Atlantic Ocean begins in La Gomera in the Canary Islands and finishes in Antigua in the Caribbean. It’s a formidable test of endurance, resilience and teamwork - and we’re proud to say that the Marine Conservation Society is one of the charities they’ve chosen to support.
About the challenge
The World’s Toughest Row is exactly what it sounds like. Fewer people have rowed across the Atlantic than have climbed Everest. Only 40 teams from around the world take part, and the conditions are harsh. Waves can reach up to 40ft, and the crew will burn up to 5,000 calories a day. They’ll row in pairs, working in relentless two-hour shifts; two hours rowing, two hours resting, 24 hours a day, for weeks on end. The team will face sleep deprivation, salt sores, and the mental and physical extremes of life at sea.
Meet the crew
Left to right: Tom, Tim, Grant and Rhys.
Credit: Tom Curtis
The Give Us A Wave team is made up of Tom, Tim, Rhys and Grant – four rowers from Bristol and Exeter, spanning four generations aged between 23 and 63.
Tom Curtis, who nominated the Marine Conservation Society as a charity to support, talks about his personal connection to our cause:
I chose the Marine Conservation Society because I feel the ocean is my happy place. I absolutely love the ocean and I want to support people who are fighting to protect it.
Reflecting on what inspired him to take on the challenge, Tom shares:
The more research I did on the race the more I knew that this was the adventure I was really looking for! A real test of mental and physical strength and the chance to achieve something incredible, row 3000 miles across the Atlantic! I also want to show my wonderful children Emily and Joshua that if you put the effort in and really want to experience all the world has to offer, you can.
Rhys, a marine engineer in the Royal Navy, was due to be called away for active duty during the training period, meaning the team had to accelerate their schedule to ensure he completed the necessary hours before deployment. But that’s not the only challenge the crew have faced so far:
The most challenging part of the whole campaign has been trying to get corporate sponsorship for the boat, it costs a lot to get all the kit, buy a boat and get the boat shipped out to the start line in La Gomera and back from Antigua.
Tom Curtis
Grant and Rhys having a snooze while Tim and Tom were on shift on a training row.
Credit: Tom Curtis
The team’s hard work and dedication to protecting our ocean doesn’t stop once they’re out of the water. As part of their campaign, the crew took part in a beach clean at Charmouth beach - an experience that left them shocked by the amount of microplastics hidden in plain sight.
Tom recalls:
The beach looked rather clean when we arrived but when you got up close and had a proper look it was a crazy amount, the volunteers did amazing work collecting and logging all the plastics they found.
This highlights the scale of the marine debris problem, and just how vital the Give Us A Wave team’s efforts are - not only in raising awareness and funds for a healthier, better-protected ocean, but also in supporting our work mobilising volunteers to clean up our coasts.
With the race kicking off in December, preparations are already well underway. The crew are fully immersed in both training and fundraising, and you can follow their journey and progress on their website and social media channels.
Rhys and Tom testing out the food they will be eating on the crossing.
Credit: Tom Curtis
Why we're on board
We’re honoured to be one of Give Us A Wave’s chosen charities. Their challenge is not just a physical test - it’s a bold and inspiring call to action, highlighting the urgent need to protect our ocean.
The team will be fundraising in the lead-up to the race, and once they’ve completed their epic journey, they’ll donate the proceeds from their campaign to their selected charities.
Their support means the world to us. By choosing to row for marine conservation, they’re helping us to tackle marine pollution, restore vital habitats, and promote effective ocean management.
Support the Give Us A Wave team
Donate to their fundraising page via their website www.giveusawave.com.
Feeling inspired?
If you’d like to take on your own challenge in support of the Marine Conservation Society, email fundraising@mcsuk.org to find out more.
