A Scottish trio who are preparing to row across the Atlantic have taken delivery of the boat that will carry them from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua.
The Saltire Tides team has also secured headline sponsorship from PAMP, one of the world’s most renowned bullion brands and the product brand of MKS PAMP, helping maximise the funds raised for Scottish children's charity The Archie Foundation.
Doctor Jenna Volpert and physiotherapists Ellen Clark and Lauren Wilde-Arnold are friends and former Dundee flatmates who have signed up to take part in the World’s Toughest Row, a formidable 3,000-mile journey.
Starting in December, the challenge will see them battling 40-foot waves, unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and salt sores, as they take it in turns to row for up to three hours at a time, 24 hours a day.
The new boat will be officially launched at Dalgety Bay today (Friday, July 24), watched by the Archie team and James Emmett, CEO of MKS PAMP, the Swiss company behind the PAMP brand and a global leader in precious metals, specialising in trading, refining and minting gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other platinum group metal products.
Prominently displayed on the boat is PAMP's iconic Lady Fortuna design, depicting the Roman goddess of prosperity and good fortune. One of the world's most recognisable bullion designs, and the first artistic motif to appear on the reverse of a minted bullion bar, Lady Fortuna will accompany the Saltire Tides team throughout their Atlantic crossing.
The Saltire Tides team, from left to right Jenna Volpert, Ellen Clark and Lauren Wilde-Arnold.
The boat, affectionately known as Crean, is an 8.6 metre long Rannoch R45, which is specifically designed for trios, fours and five-person crews, and is the world’s most popular ocean rowing boat.
The team is in the throes of fitness training as well as getting to grips with the boat.
“We have an intensive training programme to make sure we are ready to take on the World’s Toughest Row, so we have been doing fundraising challenges such as six hours of rowing at Murrayfield to help us clock up more miles, while raising wider awareness of our Atlantic challenge and The Archie Foundation, which is our chosen charity,” Ellen said.
“We are delighted to have the boat and the opportunity to train on the waters of the Forth to help us perfect all the skills we will need as we cross the Atlantic.
“We are incredibly grateful to PAMP, whose generous sponsorship has allowed us to offset many of the costs incurred and raise even more for Archie.”
The partnership forms part of a longer-term sporting engagement by PAMP. Alongside its support for Saltire Tides, PAMP is also championing the Swiss team Swiss Mountain to Sea, which will compete in the World's Toughest Row in December 2027. The team includes Stephan Siegrist, internationally recognised Swiss alpinist, climber and PAMP brand ambassador.
The Saltire Tides team all successfully completed triathlons last year, while Jenna is an avid cyclist who has already crossed parts of three continents, Lauren completed a gruelling five-day ultramarathon in the Jordanian desert and Ellen has competed at national level in dinghy sailing.
The race will get underway on December 12, when weather conditions are most favourable.
Mock up of the Saltire Tides branding on the boat.
With more than 30 teams competing, Saltire Tides have set themselves the ambitious goal of completing the crossing in less than 40 days, rowing continuously in carefully planned rotas.
Apart from satellite contact with race organisers, they will rely entirely on themselves, carrying everything they need from the start, including a mandatory 60 days’ worth of food.
Saltire Tides are seeking community support through individual and business sponsorship, helping to fund their boat, equipment and training.
Once the race is complete, the boat and equipment will be sold, with proceeds going to The Archie Foundation to support babies, children and their families across the north of Scotland.
Rebecca Duncan, business development and fundraising manager for Archie in Tayside, said: “We wish the Saltire Tides team lots of luck with the training and it’s great to see the boat in operation. Everything they raise from their amazing Atlantic challenge will make a huge difference to the services and support we provide for children and their families across Tayside and the north of Scotland.”
James Emmett, CEO of MKS PAMP, said: "Whether producing world-class precious metals products or taking on one of the toughest endurance events on the planet, success depends on technical excellence, careful preparation, durability and precision. We are delighted to support Saltire Tides, while also backing Swiss Mountain to Sea in 2027. Together these partnerships demonstrate our commitment to championing exceptional people pursuing extraordinary goals, while creating a positive impact for the communities and charities they support."
Over the past 25 years, The Archie Foundation has funded specialist roles and projects at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and, more recently, at Highland Children’s Unit in Inverness, Tayside Children’s Hospital in Dundee and Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin.
For more information on the financial and emotional support the charity provides to families, visit www.archie.org
To find out how you can support Saltire Tides on this incredible fundraising journey, visit www.saltiretides.co.uk, follow their adventure on social media by searching Saltire Tides, or get in touch by email at saltiretides@gmail.com.