TALISKER Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2011: The World´s Toughest Rowing Race

In 1966 Sir Chay Blyth and John Ridgeway performed their legendary open-boat row across the Atlantic Ocean in English Rose III. The trip took 92 days and it laid the foundation for the TALISKER Whisky Atlantic Challenge of 2011.

The challenge begins on 4th of December, with 17 teams from around the world. More people have been into space than have rowed the Atlantic, and it is rightly considered as one of the toughest challenges on the planet.

Since 1997 this ocean-rowing race has attracted the brave and the intrepid to pit themselves against the elements and race the 2,900 miles from La Gomera, Tenerife, to Port St Charles, Barbados.

Rowers have to cope with blisters, salt rashes, sleep deprivation and rowing in two-hour shifts around the clock for weeks on end.

Boats are seven meters long and just under two metres wide, with only a small cabin for protection against storms. All boats are equipped at the race start, and cannot take any repair, help or food and water during the crossing.

The Atlantic Challenge is proudly supported by TALISKER Whisky, the only single malt whisky from the Isle of Skye on Scotland´s West coast. It´s a particularly appropriate partnership, given the maritime heritage of the whisky, whose distillery is directly by the sea on the banks of the Loch Harport, Carbost, Skye. Aside from its maritime associations, TALISKER has long supported great maritime challenges, as well as fantastic charities such as the RNLI in Great Britain. It is in this spirit that the brand is proud to support the TALISKER Whisky Atlantic Challenge: The World´s Toughest Rowing Race.