Jessie May is proud to be one of two charities supported by Force Atlantic, an Army rowing team of 4, preparing to take on the Atlantic Rowing Challenge on the 12th December – a 3,000-mile endurance race known globally as The World’s Toughest Row.
A huge thank you and good luck to:
- Skipper: Katie Devine (24) – North Somerset
- Olie Cutting (37) – Portsmouth
- Vicki Wratten-Wood (24) – Kent
- Emma Mackenzie (22) – Scotland
The crew will spend 45 days at sea, rowing in pairs and rotating every two hours, including over Christmas and New Year. They have already completed over 120 hours of mandatory rowing to qualify and have undergone intense physical and mental conditioning.
Why Jessie May?
Their skipper, Katie Devine, chose Jessie May for a personal reason:
“My brother Finley is supported by Jessie May, and we really want to give something back because of all the support they’ve given my family throughout the years.”
Why they’re taking on the ‘World’s Toughest Row’…
Katie says the team were driven by a shared desire to test their limits:
“We all really want to see how far we can push our minds and bodies when we are physically exhausted. We want to inspire as many people as possible to see that anything is possible.”
Preparing for the Challenge
In order to row across the Atlantic you have to submit 120hours of rowing to enter the Worlds toughest Row. This prepared the team to get a good feeling of what it is actually going to be like on the Atlantic.
The row demands meticulous preparation – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“Training for the Atlantic means working with different people to support us mentally. Our 2IC, Olie Cutting, has designed the programme to suit exactly what we’ll face out there.”
The crew has even had to overcome setbacks.
“Unfortunately, one of our teammates got injured and we had to replace them with our reserve Emma so we had to do our 120 hours all over again to be able to be in the competition. This happened two weeks before our boat got shipped so we were very tight for time but we managed to use our mental resilience to push through and get everything done in time.”
Life at Sea
A typical day will involve a relentless two hours rowing / two hours rest cycle around the clock, plus shared duties for navigation, steering, and essential boat maintenance.
“We have jobs that must be done in the boat so you will not always have your two hours rest. We will also be consuming thousands of calories every day and be eating consistently.”
To keep morale high, each rower will bring small comforts from home:
“We’ve made playlists, packed speakers, and brought photos of loved ones. We’ve even bought presents for each other for Christmas and the halfway point.”
The Team’s Strength
Katie says their greatest advantage is the unity of the crew:
“All team members bring similar strength which is why this team was picked; they bring strong morales, good work ethic, an enthusiastic energy and a grit and determination that is needed for such an event.”
A Message to Jessie May Families
“Jessie May has been amazing support to my family and many others. We’d like to thank every member of the Jessie May team for all their help.”
Emma Carter, Director of Income Generation and External Engagement, says,
“What Katie and the Force Atlantic team are doing is nothing short of extraordinary. With Katie’s personal connection to Jessie May, their challenge carries even greater meaning for us and for the families we support. Their determination is truly inspiring, and their efforts will make a real difference to Jessie May families. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment and couldn’t be prouder to have them championing our work”.
Please donate here: Force Atlantic’s World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic 2025 – GiveWheel
Supporters can follow the team’s progress on:
- Instagram & Facebook: @forceatlantic
- Live Race Tracking: Download the YB Races app and follow the World’s Toughest Row
