Retired teachers to tackle 3,000-mile Atlantic row

Two retired teachers from Sussex are preparing for a non-stop row across the Atlantic to raise money for charity and raise awareness of marine pollution.

Jon Wilburn and Steve Potter, from Chichester, will be joining Dan Dicker and Jason Howard in The Lessons from a Boat Team to undertake the 3,000-mile (4,828km) annual challenge, known as the World's Toughest Row.

The team will set sail from the Canary Islands in their sustainable rowboat, Saltie, on 12 December, and spend at least 50 days and nights at sea.

Mr Potter told BBC Radio Sussex: “I’m imagining in my head, and have been for the last few weeks just pushing off from the side... literally a day later you’re not going to see land, you’re not going to see anybody else until you get to Antigua.”

After a conversation in the pub, the men signed up to the challenge three years ago.

Mr Wilburn said: “We were both reaching a certain age; me 50 and Steve 60, at the time…those dates have passed, and we just thought, ‘let’s get on with it’.”

Preparations have been taking place ever since, with Saltie – packed with 1.3 million calories of food – now docked in La Gomera ahead of the voyage.

The men will need to consume over 5,000 calories a day during an expedition that Mr Wilburn said could last as long as 60 days.

“We can only really heat water, we essentially eat rehydrated or freeze fried meals – which are quite good – plus snack packs.”

Accepting that Christmas is going to be very different this year, Mr Potter said the men will be able to enjoy Christmas cakes packed by his wife.

They have also packed a reindeer stew which "may be appropriate for Christmas Day".

Alongside raising money for Diabetes UK, Cancer Research and The Final Straw Foundation, the men are also aiming to spread awareness of marine pollution and have so far visited 40 schools.

During their challenge, they will be measuring the levels of plastic in the ocean, with the intention of collecting data and delivering lessons about pollution back in the UK, "live from the sea".

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.