Final preparations for record-breaking round-Britain rowing challenge by mixed-pairs team

With just one month to go until their estimated departure from Wick, The Long Row Home team are gearing up for their monumental 60-day unsupported round-Britain challenge in support of charity.

Their mission is to become the first mixed-pairs team to circumnavigate Great Britain by rowing boat and raise funds for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), with a fundraising target of £30,000.

With just weeks remaining until they set out, preparations are in full swing as the two-person team gear up for the monumental challenge ahead. Training regimes for Allan Lipp and Mhairi Ross, known as Stormy and Steth, are rigorous as they ready themselves for the daring 2000-mile adventure.

Allan, coxswain of the Wick lifeboat, and Mhairi, who works as a paramedic and is a crew member of the lifeboat, have taken several months of unpaid leave from their jobs to commit to this challenge. Aiming to depart from Wick during the week commencing 27 May, they will be closely monitoring weather conditions and await a suitable weather window to cross the Moray Firth as the first stage of their journey.

“It’s all becoming very real now,” said Mhairi. “The intensity of our training schedule around work and other preparations is palpable, but so are the nerves and the excitement.

“We’ve had invaluable experiences from training exercises alongside the Wick lifeboat to night rows in the dark and the pouring rain, and they’ve all taught us valuable lessons for our challenge ahead.”

Allan added: “With each passing day, the anticipation grows, and we’re honoured to have such incredible support and the backing of sponsors behind us.”

Earlier this week, the team were able to announce a new gold partnership with multi-national renewable energy company Boralex. “We are delighted to be supporting this extraordinary challenge to raise funds for two of the UK’s most vital charities,” said a Boralex spokesperson. “As renewable developers, we understand the challenges of working in remote and extreme conditions and often the need for grit and determination, which Stormy and Steth have in abundance.

“We will be cheering on their progress every stroke of the oar.”

As departure day draws nearer, The Long Row Home team are inviting supporters to follow their journey on social media and join them in supporting the invaluable work of the RNLI and SCAA.

The search for sponsorship continues, with businesses being encouraged to get in touch with Allan and Mhairi for information and sponsorship packages (email stormyandsteth@gmail.com). A JustGiving account has also been set up for donations at https://justgiving.com/team/stormyandsteth.

To learn more about The Long Row Home, see: https://www.thelongrowhome.co.uk/