HMS OARDACIOUS Valkyries

Team Forces is proud to be supporting the first ever serving military women’s team to row across the Atlantic Ocean. On 12 December 2024 the HMS Oardacious Valkyries will take on the ‘World’s Toughest Row’ – an epic 3,000-mile rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean. 

This team of Oarsome women will row in shifts of 2 hours on 2 hours off, all day every day for over a month covering 3,000 miles from San Sebastien de la Gomera (Canary Islands) to Nelson’s Dockyard (Antigua), whilst racing an Army team for the title of fastest women’s military team to row across any ocean. With less than two months to go until the start of the race, the Valkyries collected the Team Forces JLR Defender last week to help get their boat ‘Captain Jim’ to Portugal.

The team will be dealing with salt sores, blisters, sleep deprivation, sea sickness, 40ft waves and scorching tropical sunshine whilst still pushing beyond perceived limitations and focus on winning. As an unsupported crossing, their boat ‘Captain Jim’ is completely self-sufficient, stocked with food to last up to 55 days (5,000 calories per rower per day) and equipped with solar panels providing power to two batteries which supply all the essential equipment (including the all-important water maker – a mini reverse osmosis plant which makes fresh water from seawater).

One of the HMS Oardacious key objectives is to raise awareness and discuss the importance of recognising mental health and wellbeing in ourselves, our families, colleagues, and all those we meet. Working with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines charity the campaign has currently helped raise over £200,000 for Submariners and their families and this year we are looking to increase efforts wider across communities in the UK.

As a collective, they have represented the Fleet Air Arm, Surface Fleet and Submarine Service on countless operations both in the UK and overseas and aim to promote and encourage young women into traditionally underrepresented roles, both in and out of the Royal Navy. The team know that their mental resilience feeds their physical endurance and look forward to learning what it is that makes teams adapt and thrive.