HMS OARDACIOUS VALKYRIES
FUNDRAISING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT
VALKYRIES STARTED RACE:
11 DECEMBER 2024 8.40AM
YB Tracker available via www.worldstoughestrow.com
HMS OARDACIOUS MISSION
Since January 2020, HMS Oardacious has inspired millions as a pioneering team of Royal Navy personnel rowing across the Atlantic. In our journey, we’ve collaborated with world-class organisations, promoted STEM and resilience, and raised over £600,000 for Mental Health and Heritage charities.
This December 11th, the HMS Oardacious Valkyries will begin our fourth Atlantic crossing, aiming to make history as the first and fastest all-women serving military team to row an ocean. In 2025, HMS Oardacious will be back with more record-breaking challenges to drive resilience, unity, and inspiration across the globe.
Yours aye,
The HMS Oardacious Campaign Team
PREVIOUS HMS OARDACIOUS TEAMS
HMS Oardacious 2019: 37 days, 6 hours, 40 minutes Photo Credit: Alligin UK
HMS Oardacious 2022: 35 days, 17 hours and 19 minutes
HMS Oardacious 2023: 35 days 4 hours and 30 minutes
About valkyries 2024
We are incredibly proud that our 2024 Atlantic campaign will aim to become the first ever all-women’s Royal Navy team to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike our previous campaigns, the Valkyries represent the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, Surface Fleet and Submarine service, having all deployed on numerous operations both in the UK and overseas.
They are fundraising for the RNRMC and the Young Women’s Trust; a new collaboration that will allow them to use their unique platform to encourage young women into traditionally under-represented environments such as STEM, both in and out of the Royal Navy. After a busy campaign, they are now ready to go! The team will fly out to the Canaries at the start of December and push off into the Atlantic Ocean on the 11th of December; we look forward to sharing another incredible adventure with you all! Thank you for all your continued support.
WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW
The World’s Toughest Row, and the premier event in Ocean Rowing - a challenge that takes competitors more than 3000 miles west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua.
The Annual Race begins in early December with up to 40 teams participating from across the globe. The ‘World’s Toughest Row’ brings together teams from all walks of life united by the same objective: to take on the unique challenge of crossing an ocean in a rowing boat.
The atmosphere is electric as people help each other prepare for the challenge of the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Teams battle with sleep deprivation, salt sores, and physical extremes inflicted by the race. Rowers are left with their own thoughts, an expanse of the ocean and the job of getting the boat safely to the other side.
HMS OARDACIOUS - MORE THAN JUST ATLANTIC CROSSINGS
The HMS Oardacious Submariners Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Through our partnership with the The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the HMS Oardacious Submariners Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund was established in 2023 to respond to urgent needs within the Submarine community. The fund is now delivering some fantastic projects to support its beneficiaries; in particular to the children of serving personnel challenged by periods of long separation.
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity is the principal charity of the Royal Navy; existing to support sailors, marines and their families, for life. Since 2007, RNRMC have funded projects and facilities that boost morale for those who serve today. They also distribute millions of pounds annually to military charities which care for the children, families and veterans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
2024 RACE TEAM
Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson
Marine Engineer Officer
Petty Officer Aaby Aldridge
Survival Equipment Technician
Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow
Mine Clearance Diver
Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall
Warfare Officer
2023 RACE TEAM
Commander Matthew Main
Marine Engineer Officer
Commander Daniel Seager
Marine Engineer Officer
Commander Michael Forrester
Marine Engineer Officer
Petty Officer Ian Allan
Marine Engineering Technician
Lieutenant Rob Clarke
Health Physicist
2022 RACE TEAM
Lieutenant Commander Callum Fraser
Weapon Engineer Officer
Petty Officer Jon Norfolk
Marine Engineering Technician
Lieutenant Commander Hugo Mitchell-Heggs
Marine Engineer Officer
Lieutenant Tom Hutchinson
Marine Engineer Officer
2019 RACE TEAM
Lieutenant Commander Hugo Mitchell-Heggs
Marine Engineer Officer
Lieutenant Commander Callum Fraser
Weapon Engineer Officer
Petty Officer Dylan Woods
Marine Engineer Submariner
Leading Engineer Technician Matt Harvey
Comms Info Specialist Submariner
HMS OARDACIOUS OFFICIAL 2024 CAMPAIGN SPONSORS
Platinum Sponsor
Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress. Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, inclusion and well-being are integral to success. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries across all 7 continents.
amentum.com
SDS is a global leading supplier of optical retail software Offering exceptional Point of Sale and Practice Management Solutions, continual product enhancement, and consistently exceeding client support expectations, SDS has been leading the way for 30 years, like no other.
We are delighted to welcome our new sponsors SDS.
specialistdata.com
Gold Sponsors
Babcock is an international defence company, operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets.
We support and enhance our customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets through a range of product and service solutions, providing increased availability, affordability and capability.
Babcock International have been proud HMS Oardacious sponsors since 2019, supporting all four of our Atlantic campaigns.
NSSLGlobal is a leading independent provider of satellite communications and IT management solutions with innovation and customer service at the core of its DNA.
NSSLGlobal provides best-in-class satellite network capabilities offering the most extensive Ku-Band coverage in the industry through its own award-winning Ku- and C- Band VSAT network and Ka- and L- Band, working in partnership with some of the largest MSS and VSAT satellite operators.
NSSLGlobal have been proud HMS Oardacious sponsors since 2019, supporting all four of our Atlantic campaigns.
At BAE Systems, we provide some of the world's most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. We employ a skilled workforce of around 100,000 people in more than 40 countries. Working with customers and local partners, we develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and people, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.
We are proud to welcome back BAE systems for their second HMS Oardacious Atlantic campaign.
Skyral is a British software company that builds advanced modelling and simulation technology for enterprise, defence, and national security customers worldwide.
We are delighted to welcome our new sponsors Skyral.
Resilient Nutrition is a veteran owned and operated SME working in the Human Performance space. Our mission is to maximise the health and performance military and emergency services personnel, around the clock, in any environment on the planet. The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines have been a key part of our success, from the early days of Future Commando Force where we were able to prove the value of our approach, to the design and creation of the Future Deployed Rations System with 3 Commando Brigade. We are proud to be supporting the HMS Oardacious crews as Nutrition partner as well as Human Performance partner. We are current working with the 2023 and 2024 (Valkyries) crews on an integrated approach and system as well as using these crossing as opportunities to enhance the science behind sustained, cognitive and physical performance at sea.
As part of our support, any serving or veteran Royal Navy or Royal Marine teams who are planning a challenge or expedition can request a free Expedition Planning Consultation with the team by contacting humanperformance@resilientoperations.com
If you want to try some of the food and drinks the team will be enjoying in training and on the water you can use the following code: OARDACIOUS and get 10% off. We’ll donate an additional 10% of all proceeds using that code to the HMS Oardacious charitable partners.
We are proud to welcome back Resilient Nutrition for their second HMS Oardacious Atlantic campaign.
The Energy to Change the World We are GE Vernova We are helping to accelerate the path to more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy With a passion for innovation, we deliver a diverse portfolio of leading technologies we are working closely with our customers to help electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it.
We are delighted to welcome our new sponsors GE Vernova.
Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd powers the UK’s nuclear underwater defences. For the last 60 years we have designed, supplied and supported the nuclear propulsion plant that provides power for all of the UK Royal Navy's nuclear submarines. Our market-leading position in submarine propulsion systems encompasses everything from design and procurement to manufacture and in-service support.
Rolls-Royce have been proud HMS Oardacious sponsors since 2019, supporting all four of our Atlantic campaigns.
Silver Sponsors
Water is what connects everything we do. From our beginnings as a brand in 1975, to the products we create now. Gill has always been about empowering people through engineered, technical performance clothing and equipment so they can be active on, off and around the water whatever the conditions.
Gill have been proud HMS Oardacious sponsors since 2019, supporting all four of our Atlantic campaigns.
Team Forces is a programme which helps to fund sport, challenge and adventure in the armed forces community in order to improve health, wellbeing and recovery. They help the best get better.
Since their launch in 2011, they have donated over £9m to the armed forces community.
Team Forces have been proud HMS Oardacious sponsors since 2019, supporting all four of our Atlantic campaigns.
JVAT is a certified management consultancy firm that provides risk and assurance services across the Defence, Transport and Energy sectors.
Our unique multi-disciplinary approach will inspire excellence within your business by providing innovative solutions that not only vastly improve project delivery, but simultaneously enhance team performance.
We are delighted to welcome our new sponsors JVAT.
The China Fleet Country Club/China Fleet Trust is set in 180 acres of exquisite countryside, on the cusp of Devon and Cornwall, China Fleet is one of the South West’s leading country clubs. Just 15 minutes from Plymouth’s city centre, sitting on the stunning Tamar Estuary, we provide the perfect opportunity for a break away from suburban life. Whatever your age, interests, or work pattern, you’re guaranteed to find something you’ll love at China Fleet. The Club is owned by the China Fleet Trust, a military charity, who’s charitable objects are to provide quality leisure and recreational facilities for their beneficiaries, members, and visitors alike.
We are proud to welcome back China Fleet Trust for their second HMS Oardacious Atlantic campaign.
Slimstock help companies build more resilient supply chains. For more than 30 years, we’ve committed ourselves to creating more sustainable supply chains. By empowering planning teams to make better supply chain decisions, we help businesses to eliminate waste; both in terms of time and resources as well as talent.
We are delighted to welcome our new sponsors Slimstock.
For more than twenty years Endace has single-mindedly focused on developing best-in-class, continuous, packet capture solutions that shine the spotlight on cybersecurity threats, performance issues, and outages.
Our always-on packet capture solutions are used by some of the world's largest public and private organizations to defend and protect some of the biggest, fastest, and most critical networks on the planet.
Bronze Sponsor
Maxar Intelligence is a leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights. Operating the most advanced commercial Earth observation constellation on orbit, we use the power of very high-resolution satellite imagery and AI-powered software platforms to deliver ground truth in near real-time. Our secure products and services empower users to achieve mission success on Earth and in space, helping them keep nations safe, improve global navigation, protect our planet, speed up disaster response and more.
Donors
The ELBA Charitable Foundation was founded in March 2017 and is a Netherlands based charity.
The primary purpose of the Foundation is to provide means and measures to create cohesive, sustainable and beneficial conditions, for people to achieve their full potential and for the societies in which they live to thrive. Acting exclusively in the public interest and without an aim for profit.
Special thanks to our outreach partners
OUR PATRONS
Honorary Royal Navy Captain Penny Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt was a Parliamentarian for 14 years, holding nine ministerial roles, four in Cabinet. She was the first and only woman to be Secretary of State for Defence, having also been the first and only woman to be Minister for the Armed Forces. As Paymaster General she became the UK government’s first cross-government defensive cyber lead and headed the rebuild of the UK’s civil contingencies and resilience strategy.
She was Secretary of State for International Development, working with UN agencies, international organisations and was the UK’s representative at the World Bank. As Trade Minister, she brokered new trade deals, oversaw the UK’s accession to CPTPP and established economic agreements with US states, in lieu of a federal deal. In doing so she undertook the longest tour of the US of any Minister since Churchill during WWII. She was also on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee overseeing the UK’s exit from the EU. She has held other roles in local government, work, health, pensions and disability. Prior to Parliament she worked across all sectors and also in US politics as Head of Foreign Press for the RNC during the Bush 2000 campaign.
She was a Royal Navy Reservist for 10 years and is now an Honorary Captain affiliated to MCM2 Squadron, the UK’s mine hunters and bomb disposal divers.
She came to the public’s attention in the role of Leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council, presiding over the Accession Council following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and at the coronation of King Charles III. She was among Gracia and Vogue’s most influential women of the year.
Image: Copyright 2022 Penny Mordaunt
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE RD
Sir Robin is a bona fide legend on the water.
He was the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world between 14 June 1968 and 22 April 1969, but his connection with the sea started when he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve whilst at school as a Boy Seaman.
You can find out about Sir Robin’s history with ocean sailing, along with his days in the Merchant and Royal Navy at his personal website: www.robinknox-johnston.co.uk/
Image: Copyright 2020 Robin Knox-Johnston
Honorary Captain Pete Reed OBE
With three gold medals in rowing at three consecutive Olympic Games, Pete secured his first of five World Championship titles less than four years after starting the sport. In his 17-year rowing career, he also secured two Oxford Blues and is one of only 14 Team GB Olympians to stay at the top of his sport for so long. A serving Royal Navy officer since 1999, Pete retired from rowing in 2018 to resume public service at sea. In 2019 he suffered a spinal stroke causing paralysis below his chest. Pete has since used his military training and Olympic experience to get the best from his changed life circumstances and help others to do the same.
He speaks openly about his unique insight into overcoming adversity and trauma having learned that resilience is not a given trait, but is trainable for everyone. Pete’s greatest personal passions are his wife Jeannie, photography, travel and anything active! His work promoting spinal cord injury awareness, the challenges of ugly accessibility and poor interpretation of accessibility for differently abled people will change the spaces we live and work in.
His philosophy on resilience and his inspirational approach to life and living well will change lives.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ACTIVITIES
One of our proudest achievements has been creating and growing a community of supporters and cheerleaders - young and old - who follow our team both on and off the ocean. We’re pleased to be able to share some resources that we have been working hard with our partners to create that will allow everybody the opportunity to get more involved with the HMS Oardacious story.
These products, ranging from school lesson plans to fundraising packs have opportunities for all ages to join in with the fun.
We’re also going to be getting the team to answer some of your questions during the race. If you have something you’d like to ask, whether it’s about the wildlife they’ve seen, what they’re missing most or how they’re feeling, feel free to send them to us via Social Media or admin@hmsoardacious.com.
Activity pack
Working with RNRMC and the Submarine Family we are pleased to share the HMS Oardacious Activity pack.
With information about the boat and the team, activities to do at home over Christmas and fundraising ideas, this is the perfect pack to keep busy over the Christmas holidays.
It also includes a map of the race with a cut out rowing boat so you can follow us along during the race!
Educational Resources
In conjunction with the Royal Navy Outreach Team we have been able to create 3 lesson plans that introduce the HMS Oardacious plan whilst allowing schools to learn more about Mental Resilience, building an ocean rowing boat and how we make water, both at sea and on Submarines.
These lesson plans are primarily targeted at Secondary School pupils however there may be some material that can be used by Primary school pupils.
REACH THE WORLD
Follow along the race with the Reach the World expedition site in the form of an expedition diary. The team will be submitting articles, logbook and photos from during the race, culminating in a post-race online interview which anybody will be able to attend! We’re hoping to cover lots of different themes in conjunction with RTW and show what life is like in the open ocean in a rowing boat!
HMS Oardacious are proud to highlight that they will be working closely with Never Such Innocence during the 2022 Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, hoping to allow children to take the opportunity to enjoy following the race and learning more about the challenges for those in the Submarine Service and their family. We are also hoping to run workshops for the children of those currently serving in the Submarine Service.
Working with NSI we have already been able to create the Oardacious Sea Shanty, following a workshop at a school in Portsmouth. We look forward to being able to support many other workshops and engagements during the upcoming race. Inside the Fundraising pack there is information about the Poetry competition we’re running and we also look forward to any artwork you create that you can share with us via Social Media or email
If you are interested in a workshop with NSI, please contact Katie Salari at ks@neversuchinnocence.com.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Members of the Armed Forces
It’s okay not to be okay, It’s okay to ask for help
Joining Forces App
Joining Forces App Mental health awareness app provides information on anxiety, PTSD and depression.
PTSD Coach App
Provides coping strategies for anyone suffering from PTSD.
COMBAt stress
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health.
Their 24-hour Helpline is available to all veterans and their families for confidential mental health advice and support. They also have a range of online self-guided resources, to help veterans with a variety of mental health difficulties, including: PTSD, depression, anxiety, anger, and alcohol and substance misuse.
Call 0800 1381619 (free, 24/7)
Text 07537 173683
SSAFA FORcesline
Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.
SSAFA is outside of the military chain of command, will listen and we will not judge.
Call 0800 260 6767 (free, Mon-Fri 0900-1700)
MOD Military Mental Health Helpline
The MOD and Combat Stress have teamed up to provide a 24 hour mental health helpline for serving military personnel and their families:
Call 0800 3234444 (free, 24/7)
NAVYFit
Physical and mental fitness are at the heart of Royal Navy life, and NAVYfit is here to help you stay at the top of your game. Explore the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, discover sporting opportunities, and find out how you can push yourself even further with Adventurous Training; all in one place.
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