Mistley man to row across the Atlantic in 3,000-mile challenge

Tom Rose, 27, grew up in Mistley and spent some of time working for his family’s business, Rose Builders, which is based in Manningtree.

While studying civil engineering at the University of Exeter, the keen hockey player started running in a bid to improve his mobility and overall fitness.

His obsession with pushing himself to the limits gradually saw him increase the distance before he was soon taking on ultra-marathons and races in the Sahara desert.

After finishing the Marathon Des Sables back in 2019 Tom, following an initially welcomed respite from training, started to feel agitated by the lack of body-punishing challenges on his calendar.

His unrelenting need to test and better himself subsequently saw him decide to take on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which he will tackle this December as part of the Atlantic Nomads team.

Tom added: “There has always been this escalation and feeling of ‘what is the next challenge?’

“I got the itch to push myself to the limits again and I wanted a step up from the challenge in the desert, so then this came to mind.

“I had vowed to never do it because it sounded horrendous, but I was just looking for an event which would fill the void.”

Tom’s participation in The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge will see him and his three fellow team members row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic over roughly 40 days.

The annual race, which sees 30 groups go head-to-head, starts at San Sebastian in La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, and ends at Nelsons Dockyard English Harbour, in Antigua and Barbuda.

The crew will battle sleep deprivation, salt sores and a variety of physical extremes as they battle through the powers of the ocean throughout the night.

The construction site manager and his crew have been training both in and out of the water for the best part of 18 months, but some of their preparations were disrupted because of the pandemic.

Regardless, Tom believes nothing can truly prepare them for the uncertainties and unpredictability of the sea - especially if you are a rowing novice.

“I have never actually rowed properly, but we have done a lot of training,” admitted Tom.

“The most worrying bit is the isolation, because it will just be us team mates to keep us safe and look after each other.

“There is a support yacht, but that could be miles away, so we are basically out their on our own.

“The big thing is the unknown and we do not know what the ocean state will be like.

“When it is pitch black, it will be frightening, especially if you cannot see the huge waves coming or if something bad happens.

“Capsizing in a storm at night whilst on the oars is a big fear.”

Tom and his team will be using the row to raise money for Alabaré Homes for Veterans - a charity picked by a team member who has since pulled out.

They have also had to generate a whopping £125,000 in sponsorships just to get themselves to the start line. Some of the money has been spent on a state-of-the-art 28-feet ocean rowing boat called Doris, which was unveiled in Manningtree last weekend.

Tom added: “It was nice to see everyone, such as my friends and family, and the sponsors really enjoyed seeing the boat and what their money has gone towards.

“The money can be a real block for a lot of people, so we must thank all the businesses and sponsors who have helped us.

“When you see the boat for the first time, it makes it all the more real and the cabins are quite small at best.

“But, it is time to have an adventure.”

To find out more about the Atlantic Nomads, visit atlanticnomads.co.uk or head to taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com