Talisker Whiskey Challenge: Daredevil duo ready to take on shark-infested waters

Simon and Nina Crouchman have been told capsizing is an inevitability during their gruelling 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera, in Gran Canaria, to Nelson’s Dockyard, in Antigua.

The pair from Rowhedge will take on the trek in a 24ft ocean rowing boat as part of the December 2022 Talisker Whiskey Challenge event.

When they finally take to the water next winter, it will be the culmination of an extensive two-year planning operation.

It’s why people have told Nina getting to the start line logistically is harder than the actual row.

Simon and Nina Crouchman

“This has been on my bucket list for three years,” said Nina, 49.

“My husband Simon and I told ourselves an ordinary couple like us could never do something like this.

“It’s not cheap, it’s costing us absolute thousands of pounds and we believed this was just something we would never be able to fund as two normal people.

“However, we were determined to raise money for Samaritans as it is so close to our heart. We have known people who have taken their own lives, particularly during lockdown.

“We’re going to be on a boat together in the middle of the ocean for two months which is going to give us so much time for reflection.

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“It will be a confined, small space and it’s going to impact us in all kinds of ways emotionally, mentally and physically.”

There will be lots of barriers to overcome, as well as the daunting mental toll it will take on the couple who have been married for 27 years.

Waves in excess of 20ft, 30 degree heat, severe winds, blisters, sharks, loneliness and the “inevitability” of capsizing all lie ahead.

But it’s not phasing Nina, who has been heavily involved with Rowhedge’s rowing club since its inception in 2012.

“Every week one of us will have to go into the water and clean the barnacles off the bottom of it, and the other will be on shark watch,” added Nina.

“During last year’s race there were four occasions where a boat was struck by an Atlantic Blue Marlin shark.

“I think the most worrying thing is we’re told to expect to capsize.

“But, we’ve done a training course and we know we have to remain positive the whole way through.

“Simon and I have known each other for a long time and we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think we could.

“We’re going to see some amazing sights too, as well as the slightly scary ones.”

After an uncertain summer of minimal training due to issues with the delivery of their boat, the couple can now finally get to work after finally receiving it.

It follows a delivery operation co-ordinated between three different time zones with a seller in Savannah, Georgia, USA, his wife in Hawaii, and the Crouchmans in the UK.

The previous owner himself had undertaken the 3,000-mile journey facing the couple, but had been left disheartened after the boat was ransacked by thieves in Antigua.

It was then stuck in limbo on its way to the Rowhedge couple as shipping chaos unfolded when the Suez Canal was blocked in March.

Ironically, the boat actually originated from just down the road in Burnham but it has been on quite a journey since.

“It was really stressful,” explained Nina. “Boats are like gold dust and we were delighted when we heard about this one.

“Its shipping kept getting pushed back and back through July, August and then finally in September things started to progress a little.

“Everything feels more real now we’ve got the boat.

“We lost a whole summer’s worth of training and we just want to get it on the water and get going now.

“This time next year we will be ready to go and I can’t wait.”

To support Simon and Nina fund their trip, you can donate via bit.ly/3Dum5hJ.