Four friends backed by South Cheshire firm Mornflake were jubilant winners of an epic 3000-mile Atlantic rowing challenge after battling physical exhaustion and 20ft waves.
One Ocean Crew, a team of women in their 30s, carried off the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge female class trophy despite never rowing as a team before and a training regime limited by restrictions at the height of the pandemic.
Physiotherapist Jen Cullom, wilderness expedition guide Erin Bastian and landscape architect Emily Woodason and corporate investigator Janette Potgieter completed it in a remarkable 40 days and four hours.
Taking it in turn to row as pairs, they overcame sleep deprivation, swollen knees and fingers and many tearful moments out on the open ocean.
Pre-prepared packs of Superfast porridge oats from their headline sponsor Mornflake in Crewe helped to keep their energy levels up to the 4000 calories needed each day.
The family firm has long championed British agriculture and sustainability in food production.
It came to the team’s rescue when they struggled to find support at the height of the pandemic.
The team, who met last spring when Skipper Jen put out a call online for adventure-seekers to join her, set off from the Canary Island of La Gomera on December 12 and are currently recuperating at their finish point Antigua.
There were many highs and lows along the way including Christmas hundreds of miles from land and ringing in the New Year under a starry sky.
All suffered inflamed finger joints causing painful ‘claw hand’ after long hours gripping oars.
There were scary moments too. They were hit by flying fish at night and had to take it in turns to get in the water and clean barnacles off the boat despite the frequent sight of sharks without another vessel for miles around.
Their mission was not only to win the female class, but to raise awareness of ocean protection.
Their eco-boat is now being sold to raise money for the Sea Ranger Service which is dedicated to restoring ocean biodiversity while training young people for a maritime career.
Jen, 32, said: “Back in the first lockdown I had the crazy idea of forming an all-girl rowing team to take part in a life-changing challenge.
“I’ve rowed before at Henley but nothing on a major scale and at times I did wonder what I had got us into.
“Living in different parts of the country, restrictions made it hard to get together to train and it was difficult finding a headline sponsor with companies tightening their belts due to the economic climate.
“Mornflake were not only our saviours but a brilliant match. It’s a British company genuinely passionate about sustainability and encouraging healthy lifestyles. We were so proud to have them onboard.”
As Britain’s fourth oldest family firm, Mornflake has supported the agricultural industry for generations with its oats grown by a network of British farmers.
The ‘Millers of Mighty Oats’ supported the DEFRA pandemic parcel scheme with millions of porridge packs sent to NHS workers, food banks and vulnerable people.
Emily, 35, the crew’s nutrition lead, added: “We pre-packed the porridge which provided a critical element of our daily energy.
“Conditions were often slow and relentless, no trade winds to get behind us.
“Then came windy days with big seas and 20ft waves crashing the boat threatening capsize.
“We saw Mother Nature at its most dramatic and beautiful.
“Sadly, we did see a lot of plastic and when we return to the UK we will keep campaigning for ocean protection.”
A professional film-maker friend is currently charting their adventure and the girls plan to sell tickets to a special charity screening in the spring.
Mornflake will hold a reception for the crew on return from Antigua.
Managing director James Lea said: “Our porridge oats are the breakfast of choice for many athletes and here’s another example of home-grown British oats being an amazing source of energy.
“We were proud to back One Ocean Crew to the finish line.
“Their sheer grit and determination to ‘do it’ to raise awareness of the importance of our oceans makes them heroes in our eyes and we couldn’t be more delighted for this team of four.”
