Valkyries to take on big challenge
A GROUP of Royal Navy sailors is planning make history as part of the first serving military women’s team to attempt to row the Atlantic Ocean.
The team known as the Valkyries will face 3,000 miles of open seas and competition from around three dozen other teams as they take on the World’s Toughest Row.
Planning to set off from San Sebastien de la Gomera in the Canaries on December 12, the team will make their way to Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua around five weeks later.
The sailors include skipper Izzy Rawlinson, a marine engineer in submarines, mine clearance diver Ali Aindow, Aaby Aldridge, who maintains survival equipment, pilot LilyMae Fisher, and warfare specialist Nic Hall.
Their plans were unveiled by the Navy on March 8 - International Women’s Day.
Izzy said: “We hope to portray ordinary women doing something extraordinary and to showcase that as hard as something could be, tomorrow is a different day.
“If I could make someone’s life slightly better by them looking at me and thinking, if she can do it, then I can definitely get out of this, I can make it through to the other side, then that’s good enough for me.
“It gives us the opportunity to promote women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and advocate for mental health, wellness, and resilience.”
The team are also coached and managed by a female sailor, helicopter observer (navigator/sensors and weapons specialist) Alex Kelley.
They will row in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, all day every day and will face salt sores, blisters, sleep deprivation, sea sickness, 40-foot waves and scorching tropical sunshine as they push themselves to the limit.
The Valkyries are driven by the goal not merely of completing the epic challenge, but also of beating an all-female British Army team who are also taking part in the race.
Beyond the physical and mental strains the event will place on the team, above all the rowers hope it will inspire girls and young women.
The Valkyries will use the same boat which helped a five-strong all-male Royal Navy team to victory in the 2023-24 race, Captain Jim.
It’s the fourth time a Royal Navy team has taken part in the row in five years under the HMS Oardacious initiative, which aims to support the mental health of fellow sailors and their families.
As with the three previous incarnations of Oardacious, the rowers are looking to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, building on achievements since 2019.
To date, in conjunction with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the campaign has raised more than £200,000 for submariners and their families and will now be expanded to the broader Royal Navy family.