Twenty years ago, Stuart Macdonald read a book about a middle-aged British man who rowed the Atlantic and then went on to row the Pacific solo. The idea lodged itself in his mind and refused to leave. At the start of next year, he intends to do something about it with the shipping industry today, given naming rights to what will be one of 2027’s most high-profile boats.
Macdonald, a professional mountain guide based in the Alps, is preparing to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean – some 6,000 km from Portugal to French Guiana – in what he has named the Summit to Sea challenge, whilst raising funds for two charities close to his heart, Pancreatic Cancer UK and the Martin Moran Foundation. It is, by any measure, an extraordinary undertaking: weeks alone on the open ocean, rowing up to 14 hours a day, sleeping in four-hour shifts, consuming 6,000 calories daily and entirely at the mercy of conditions in one of the world’s most demanding maritime environments.
What stands out is the methodical, experienced approach he brings – unsurprising, perhaps, from someone whose professional life involves taking people safely up mountains in serious conditions.
“I don’t find the crossing as daunting as some people expect,” he says, “but that’s because I’m training hard for it and preparing every aspect as well as I possibly can.” Where many teams begin their Atlantic crossing with the recommended 120 hours of sea training on their vessel, Macdonald has already completed more than 500 – including rowing from the Italian coast to Corsica – with more planned before departure. He trains daily in the gym and on the rowing machine. “The ocean doesn’t make exceptions for age, so I need to be ready in every way.”
His vessel – for which naming rights are available – is a purpose-built carbon fibre ocean rowing boat (pictured on Lake Geneva), designed to self-right in the event of a capsize. It carries the full suite of electronics a yacht would carry – chart plotter, auto-helm, AIS, VHF radio and a solar and battery power system – along with a desalinator to produce fresh water, and a small cabin for sleeping. It is a serious piece of kit for a serious undertaking.
Nutrition has been planned with equal rigour. Macdonald will consume between 5,500 and 6,000 calories per day – roughly half from freeze-dried meals rehydrated with boiling water, the rest from a mix of chocolate, biscuits, nuts, sausage and cheese. “It’s not just about calories,” he notes. “Getting the right balance of carbohydrate, protein and fat will be essential in order to perform at my best.”
As a solo rower, he has more flexibility than teams who operate rigid shift rotations. He aims for four hours of sleep at night with shorter naps during the day, and expects to row between 12 and 14 hours daily – more or less depending on conditions.
His destination, French Guiana, surprised even him during his research. “It blew my mind a little. Despite being in South America, it’s in the EU – a department of France, just like Corsica. The president is Emmanuel Macron and the currency is the euro.” The logistical simplicity of arriving in what is technically French territory was a factor in choosing it as his finish point.
Macdonald is currently seeking help to fund the challenge with boat naming rights being the most prestigious sponsorship category. Find out more about the challenge here.
