A woman from Bath is set to take on an epic 3,000-mile rowing challenge across the Atlantic this December.
Maddie Difazio-Wright from Bath
35-year-old Maddie Difazio-Wright is being supported by breakfast manufacturer Mornflake for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
Joining Maddie, a member of the Minerva Rowing Club and a brand manager for MAKE, a bespoke homes developer in Bristol, is Grace Gilbert, a chartered surveyor from Oxford and Grace Pybus, 32, a teacher based in Newport, Wales.
The adventure-seekers are pressing on with their final weeks of training with an ambitious goal in mind, to be the first all-female team to pass the finish line in one of the world’s toughest rowing challenges.
The friends, who formed their team ‘Vibe the Wave’ after meeting on social media, will row three hours on, three hours off for between 40 and 50 days, covering 3000nm of open ocean.
Their route from La Gomera to Antigua, the equivalent of 115 marathons, will be a test of their physical and mental resilience. The crew mates are preparing for sea sickness, sleep deprivation, hand blisters, hallucinations and 40ft waves.
Maddie said: “It’s difficult getting corporate backing right now but Mornflake have been very generous providing cash support and their Mighty Oats breakfasts for the whole time we are at sea.
“We are thrilled to have them on board. Not only is their heritage wonderfully British and steeped in history, the family behind the brand have long championed healthy lifestyles and are true champions of sustainability.
“Their mill is powered by a wind and solar power, and they believe there is no excuse for waste.
“They recycle and reuse everything they can and any by-product of their oats is used as feed for local livestock. We love that their values match ours and are excited to have them on our team.”
Maddie, who is gearing up for the challenge by rowing on the River Avon, added: “My sport was always netball until I broke my ankle. Then I saw a film called Losing Sight of Shore about four brave women who row the Pacific Ocean.
“I decided to join the rowing club in Bath and got to know about the Atlantic Challenge via LinkedIn. Now I’ve discovered that rowing is seriously hard core.
“But training for an open water endurance race is a combination of things I really enjoy – developing new skills, being curious to learn about the human spirit and being close to water.
“Our hope is to continue to be a high performing team who support each other, understand each other and share trust, respect and acceptance. We hope what we are doing will inspire other women to say ‘yes’ to a challenge.”
The friends are each raising money for a cause close to their heart.
For Maddie, that’s Bristol-based Empire Fighting Chance which supports young people through non-contact boxing programmes.
They also hope to raise awareness of the critical need to protect the ocean and will collect plastic along the way to highlight the issues surrounding climate change and pollution.
Mornflake Managing director James Lea said: “We are delighted our oat-based cereals are helping Vibe the Wave train for their mission and will be their staple food source on the row.
“It’s an incredibly brave and commendable effort to raise awareness of ocean protection and encourage people to live more sustainably.
“It’s important to us to work side by side with Mother Nature and keep the world the way it should be. So Vibe the Wave, we salute you.
“We will proudly chart your progress on the voyage.”
Vibe the Wave set sail from the Canary Island, La Gomera, on 12th December.
