Mermaid Atlantic Team Complete 3,000 Nautical Miles Charity Row

The Mermaid Atlantic Team completed their gruelling, unsupported row, 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic in the World’s Toughest Row race at 22.45 hrs local time on Thursday, 25th January 2024.

The three team members, all native to the Isle of Wight, Xavier Baker, co-founder of The Isle of Wight Distillery, Chris Manion, owner of i-surf and Paul Berry, Ventnor longshoreman and firefighter, crossed the finish line at English Harbour, Antigua having been at sea for 43 days and 17 hours and 58 minutes.

The team finished third in the trio category, and friends and family gathered at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua to watch them cross the finish line in their Rannoch 45 rowing boat named Mermaid Atlantic after Mermaid Gin, which is the main sponsor.

Having not had a full night’s sleep for over 43 days, they were ecstatic to have completed the race safely and be reunited with their families.

Mermaid Atlantic pushed themselves to their limits to raise money and awareness of ocean pollution. They battled the elements to support three local charities, Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust, Surfers for Sewage and The Seahorse Trust.

So far, they have raised an amazing total of over £15,500, with donations still coming in.

The team set off from La Gomera, Canary Islands, on 13th December 2023, along with 37 other boats. Even in the first few days, they encountered a number of challenges with unusually rough weather conditions, a broken daggerboard, which meant the boat’s stability was compromised and a near miss with a tanker at 2 am in the morning.

Throughout the race, the weather continued to play havoc with huge waves and big swells, meaning seasickness was an issue for the crew.

Just as they thought they had got through the worst of the weather, they met with southerly winds which pushed them north. The team deployed their Para Anchor, which helped them hold their position and stop going backwards, but this meant that progress was slower than expected.

Despite the difficult and challenging conditions the team have enjoyed some lighter moments with amazing wildlife encounters including jumping dolphins and what they believe to be a Ione-mink whale and they made friends with a bird they think is a Wilson’s storm-petrel.

Tuna has been regularly spotted under the boat, and in the last week of the race, they spotted a Blue Marlin, which thankfully decided not to try and spike the boat.

The sunsets and sunrises have helped to keep morale up, and they celebrated the halfway mark with a stunning sunset, enjoying a Mermaid Gin and Tonic Ready-To-Drink can in front of a glowing sunset.

At times, the nights were very dark, with no moon to guide them, but they became masters at navigating with the stars.

Speaking on behalf of the crew, Xavier Baker said, “We have been pushed to the limits both physically and mentally, but words cannot express how happy we all feel having completed the race and battled the mighty ocean.

It was relentless, but to know we had the support of friends, family, and sponsors helped to maintain spirits and morale.

We have been overwhelmed by the financial support from everyone, and to exceed our fundraising target is just fantastic. The money raised will go to three amazing charities and help to protect and preserve the seas and wildlife around our UK shores, which is something that the three of us feel passionate about.”

The trio hope to raise further funds via their Give Wheel page.