For Liv Stocks, the Atlantic crossing is also personal.
The 22-year-old from East Yorkshire is preparing for a 4,800-kilometre challenge alongside Jenna Vincent, 25, from Poole in Dorset, and Meg Neely, 24, from Swindon in Wiltshire.
The women will take part in the World’s Toughest Row, which is due to begin in December and is expected to feature teams from around the world.
They will attempt to row from the Canary Islands to Antigua in their ocean-going boat, Stevo, and are hoping to become the youngest female trio to cross the ocean.
Stocks will raise money for A Shining Light, a Howden-based charity set up to support NHS services and the Teenage Cancer Trust after the death of her school friend Luke Stevens, who died from bone cancer in 2021 aged 17.
“It’s just a really special charity that is making a difference on the ground for children and young adults who are going through some of the toughest times of their lives,” she said.
Stocks said the team was aiming to complete the race in 45 to 50 days, but had provisions for 60.
She described it as “a pretty big challenge” and an opportunity to get back to basics.
“I think you just get so lost in everyday life, so doing something like this where it’s just stripped back to eat, sleep, row, repeat, it’s just really special.
“Six to eight weeks out at sea with absolutely no assistance, completely on our own.”
The team’s name is Just Row With It, and the women have completed mandatory training courses including navigation and survival.
However, Stocks told BBC Radio Humberside: “There really aren’t that many mitigations that can be made for avoiding rough weather or big seas. We’ve just got to embrace it and keep going.”
The team, along with the boat, will visit the Howden Show on Sunday, where Stocks said they would talk to people about the challenge and answer questions.
Read more from BBC News.
