Epic Canada to Essex row to break Guinness World Records

The expedition, aptly named Hometown Row, will see Dawn team up with American ocean rower Paul Lore to attempt roughly 2,500 miles from St John’s, Newfoundland, to the Essex coast in a two-month expedition.

Scheduled to depart Newfoundland on June 25, the pair have a planned ceremonial arrival in Burnham on August 29 to coincide with the celebratory Burnham Week.

The challenge will be the final leg of a wider transatlantic project designed to connect communities on both sides of the ocean while raising money and awareness for charities in the UK and USA, including Phoenix Heroes and K9s For Warriors.

Challenge - The Hometown Row is set to break two of Dawn's previous records and set two more for the first and fasted mixed pair to row the Atlantic east-west (Image: World's Toughest Row)

Dawn, founder of Row Aurora and principal of Aurora Sea School in Burnham, is no stranger to extreme ocean challenges.

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Examiner, British Rowing coach and veteran ocean rower, she has already completed six ocean crossings, including a solo Atlantic row in 2019.

She currently holds four Guinness World Records, including fastest female trio to row the mid-Pacific, female with the most number of ocean rows, female with the most ocean miles rowed, and fastest mixed pair to row the Atlantic east–west.

Once complete, Hometown Row will push those achievements even further; Dawn will become the first female to complete seven ocean crossings and extend her record for the most miles rowed, while the partnership with Paul will set a new mark as the first mixed pair to tow the North Atlantic west-east – and, by default, the fastest.

She will also become the first British woman to have rowed the Atlantic in both directions.

Records - Dawn currently holds four Guinness World Records, including fastest female trio to row the mid-Pacific (Image: World's Toughest Row)

In 2022, Dawn was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her maritime work and contribution to the community.

“This row is about far more than records,” Dawn said.

“It is about adventure, resilience, community, and proving that extraordinary challenges are still possible later in life. We are literally rowing home the long way round.”

The duo will face severe North Atlantic weather systems, cold water, fog, heavy shipping traffic, sleep deprivation and even the possibility of icebergs.

Row - Dawn and Paul will row roughly 2,500 miles in two months across the Atlantic (Image: World's Toughest Row)

They will row in shifts around the clock aboard a specially designed ocean rowing boat carrying all supplies, navigation and communications equipment, and emergency safety gear.

The expedition aims to knit together schools, yacht clubs, rowing clubs and local organisations in the US and in Burnham, with schools, yacht and rowing clubs, and local organisations on both sides of the Atlantic already becoming involved in the project.

A major public welcome is planned as the boat rows up the River Crouch, with escort vessels, media and spectators expected to line the water.

Supporters will also be able to follow the pair across the Atlantic via an online tracker, daily blogs and donation links at www.rowaurora.co.uk.