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In 2020, I will solo row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

3,000 Miles

800 Sheets Of Toilet Paper

90 Days

1.5 Million Oar Strokes

1 Man

Countdown to race:

CRP

CRP

Dynafit

dynafit

Fourth Element

Fourth Element

Sam Poate

RH

Burlingham London

Burlingham

The Man

Atlantic Titan is made up of just me, Rob Hamilton. I have always had a love for the ocean, travel and endurance events. I am an experienced scuba diver having passed my PADI scuba dive instructor course at 18 and going on to complete a number of technical diving qualifications. My curiosity about the world and how far I can push myself led me to complete a master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, travel to nearly 50 countries and complete two ultra-mountain marathons.

In 2016, I achieved a lifelong ambition when I was accepted into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for training to become an Army officer. Soon after I started, however, I injured my knee (by literally killing off part of my femur), was permanently medically discharged from the Army and put on crutches for three months with a further three months of no sport. I went from someone who could run 50 miles over mountains, to someone who could walk around town for 20 minutes before having to call it a day. This race is a chance to prove to myself and demonstrate to others that life changing events and injuries do not have to permanently change your way of life. With a little grit and determination, incredible things are possible!

The Atlantic row also presents a tremendous opportunity to raise money for an organisation which I have a very close relationship with. In 2018, I spent several months working for the Collateral Repair Project (CRP) in Amman, Jordan. The organisation helps refugees through emergency aid and community programmes such as English classes, after-school clubs and psycho-social support. I am hoping to raise at least £50,000 for this amazing organisation. The name, Atlantic Titan, was the idea of a friend who is a beneficiary of the organisation.

The Challenge

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is often touted as one of the world’s toughest race, and with good reason. The annual race starts ever December in the Canary Islands and finishes 3000 miles later, in Antigua. During the race I will have to contend with seasickness, salt sores, sleep deprivation, dehydration, extreme heat, isolation, 30ft high waves, 35 degree heat, sharks, and possible capsizes. Despite eating over 6000 calories a day, I will likely lose at least 12kg by the time I finish in Antigua. It is perhaps unsurprising that more people have climbed Everest than successfully rowed across an ocean.

While there are two safety yachts for the fleet in case of emergencies, the race itself is unsupported. I will carry everything I need to cross the Atlantic in my boat, this includes enough food for 90 days, a water maker to purify sea water, a satellite phone, life raft, radio and chart plotter.

December 2020 may seem a long way off, however, there is a huge amount of training and preparation to do. To assist with my preparations, I am actively seeking sponsorship to help achieve my incredible goal. Please download a sponsorship document if you would like more information on my challenge can support your organisation.

Download a Sponsorship Document
Race Distance

The Charity

I am hoping to raise at least £50,000 for Collateral Repair Project (CRP), a refugee support organisation based in Amman, Jordan. The organisation is apolitical and areligious meaning they support refugees from a wide spectrum of nationalities and faiths. programmes

When most people think about the refugee crisis, they think of boats making dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean, and families crowded into tents in European camps. But the reality is that the vast majority of displaced people never reach Europe. This is where CRP comes in. Since 2006, CRP have supported urban refugees in Amman. The organisation tries to meet the immediate needs of its beneficiaries by distributing food vouchers and providing medical support. They give out warm clothes and heaters in the winter, and back-to-school supplies in September. At their community centre in east Amman they offer classes and activities focusing on education and trauma relief. There are sports trips, art and calligraphy classes, and Arabic literacy classes for kids. They have trauma sensitive yoga sessions, a barbershop and beauty school livelihood programmes. They help their beneficiaries recover from the past and equip them for the future. The community centre is a safe, non-sectarian space, where they welcome people of all different religions and nationalities, promoting social cohesion.

The organisation has a special meaning to me as I spent several months working for CRP in 2018. I therefore know about the life changing work they do and can safely say that your donations will make a real difference to the lives of refugees. I may have experienced injuries and setbacks, but the beneficiaries of CRP have had their homes taken away and were forced to flee to another country. CRP supports them as they start a new chapter in their lives.