Women take on 'world's toughest' rowing challenge

Deborah Cope and her friends will start their challenge in the Canary Islands on 12 December

A team of four women are preparing to row unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean.

Deborah Cope, from Crewe, and three of her friends will take on the almost 3,000-mile (4,828km) challenge to raise money for the veterans charity Phoenix Heroes.

Family friend Jordan Gatley was killed fighting in Ukraine two years ago, and Ms Cope’s son James also served in the Army.

The pair went to Sandbach Boys School together and joined the forces at the same time, Ms Cope said.

An image of Jordan’s face will be painted on the side of the boat to help motivate the rowers.

“We will look at those faces when we’re cleaning the boat in the middle of the Atlantic, and I think that is what will push us on” Ms Cope said.

The route from the Canary Islands to Antigua is known as the world’s toughest rowing challenge.

Ms Cope, 64, said she expected using the toilet to be one of the many challenges faced by the group.

“We have a bucket,” she laughed. “We eat dehydrated food for 50 days, there’s no luxuries onboard.

“There’s no mirrors, it’s really getting back to basics.”

The women will face sleep deprivation, 12m (40 ft) waves, cramped conditions, shark-infested waters and aching hands.

The boat will provide both their accommodation as well as transport.

The team has spent £150,000 on kit, the boat and the race fee. They are now hoping a sponsor will help them with the £12,000 needed to ship it to the Canary Islands.

They will set off on 12 December, to join 40 other teams participating in the challenge.

The four women have been training for months, and will row in pairs for periods of three hours on followed by three hours off.

“I think it’s more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge,” Ms Cope said.