Land Ho for Atlantic Mermaid
Mermaid Atlantic complete gruelling row across the Atlantic Ocean raising funds for UK marine and wildlife charities.
It is an exciting time at the Isle of Wight Distillery. Co-founder Xavier Baker and the Mermaid Atlantic team are settling back into Island life after completing the World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic Ocean. The aim was to raise awareness and funds for ocean conservation charities - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Surfers Against Sewage and The Seahorse Trust. So far the Mermaid Atlantic team have raised an amazing total of over £15,500 with donations still coming in.
The three team members are all native to the Isle of Wight: Xavier Baker, co-founder of the Isle of Wight Distillery, Chris Manion, owner of i-surf, and Paul Berry, Ventnor longshoreman and firefighter. Their adventure was two years in the planning and involved a gruelling 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean, setting out from the Canary Islands on 13 December 2023, alongside 37 other boats, in their Rannoch 45 rowing boat named Mermaid Atlantic after Mermaid Gin, which was the main sponsor. Their unsupported row took 42 days, 17 hours and 58 minutes, before they crossed the finishing line at Antigua, in a very respectable third place in the trio category.
Friends and family gathered at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua to watch them cross the finish line, including Xavier’s business partner and co-founder of the Isle of Wight Distillery, Conrad Gauntlett, how had been holding the fort over the busy Christmas period back home in Xavier’s absence.
The Atlantic Team have sea stories to share. Even in the first few days, they encountered a number of challenges with unusually rough weather conditions, a broken daggerboard which meant the boat’s stability was compromised and a near miss with a tanker at 2am in the morning.
The weather continued to play havoc with huge waves and big swells meaning sea sickness was an issue for the crew. Just as they thought they had got through the worst of the weather, they met with southerly winds which pushed them north. The team deployed their Para Anchor which helped them hold their position and stop going backwards but this meant that progress was slower than expected.
They battled monstrous waves, marlin visits, broken equipment, shredded hands, and an unrepairable daggerboard. Despite this they undertook a huge feat, had an unforgettable experience, beat their fundraising target, and enjoyed a well-deserved Mermaid gin and tonic ready-to-drink can in front of a stunning glowing sunset to celebrate the halfway mark.
Despite the challenging conditions the team have enjoyed some lighter moments with amazing wildlife encounters including jumping dolphins and what they believe to be a Ione-mink whale. They made friends with a bird they think is a Wilson’s storm-petrel. Tuna were regularly spotted under the boat and in the last week they spotted a Blue Marlin which thankfully decided not to try and spike the boat. At times the nights were very dark with no moon to guide them but they became masters at navigating with the stars.
Speaking on behalf of the crew, Xavier said, “We have been pushed to the limits both physically and mentally but words cannot express how happy we all feel having completed the race and battled the mighty ocean. It was relentless, but to know we had the support of friends, family and sponsors helped to maintain spirits and morale.
"We have been overwhelmed by the financial support from everyone and to exceed our fundraising target is just fantastic. The money raised will go to three amazing charities and help to protect and preserve the seas and wildlife around our UK shores, which is something that the three of us feel passionate about.”
The trio hope to raise further funds via their Give Wheel page
Photography credits: Worlds Roughest Row
