When Adam Ratcliffe made the life-altering decision to leave his corporate engineering job three years ago, he envisioned embarking on a myriad of adventures. However, he never imagined that one of those would involve rowing a staggering 3,500 nautical miles across one of the world’s most perilous oceans, especially alongside three ex-Royal Marines armed with experience in high-stakes scenarios. The crew, known as “Team United We Conquer,” is undertaking this monumental journey with multi-faceted objectives: to shatter the world record for rowing across the North Atlantic, challenge their personal limits, and raise awareness regarding mental health issues faced by veterans.
The quartet of British adventurers plans to commence their journey from Liberty Landing, New Jersey, on an upcoming Thursday. Their destination is the British Isles of Scilly, with a lofty goal of completing the trek in less than 43 days, 21 hours, and 26 minutes. Throughout this endeavor, Ratcliffe, alongside fellow teammate Jack Jarvis, has taken on the mission to raise £50,000 (roughly $67,158) for Head Up, a charity focused on mental health initiatives tailored specifically for the British armed forces community.
Jack Jarvis, who serves as a vital member of the team, is not new to extreme challenges. A 12-year veteran of the British Army, he holds the remarkable record for completing a solo row across the Atlantic in just 111 days. After leaving military service in February, Jarvis opened up about the feelings of insignificance and lack of purpose that can accompany such transitions. He quipped about how he would likely not experience the loneliness often shared among veterans, given that he would be confined to a seven-meter boat with “three other hairy men” for over 40 days. “Doing something like this has really given me that purpose, you know, that meaning,” he shared in a Fox News Digital interview, emphasizing that the expedition is not only about personal adventure but also about making a tangible difference.
In contrast, Adam Ratcliffe stands out as the sole member of the team with no formal military background. His leap into the realm of “adventurer” stemmed from a desire to create adventure content on YouTube, a decision that branched away from the security that a corporate job might imply. When reflecting on his choices, Ratcliffe pondered the notion of living life free from fear and regret. “When I’m on my deathbed at 90 years old, what would I consider the least cowardice decision and the best decision for my life to be?” he mused. By participating in this journey, Ratcliffe aims to inspire others dealing with mental health challenges, soldier or civilian, to recognize they possess the power to reshape their circumstances even amid daunting odds, such as being adrift in the vast ocean.
Joining Ratcliffe and Jarvis are fellow Royal Marine veterans, David “Brucey” Bruce and Sam “Nutty” Edwards. Together, they aim to restore a boat previously abandoned off the coast of Africa, which the team discovered floating after 11 months at sea. They brought it back to life in the Bahamas and rowed it to mainland Florida, and now they find themselves prepping for their formidable trek that carries inherent risks.
Despite successful expeditions across the Mid-Atlantic, the North Atlantic is known for its unpredictability and danger. The team acknowledges the grim reality that lives have been lost in attempts to cross this route. As Jarvis stated, “Why am I risking my life when I don’t need to?” His reflections reveal a search for meaning, driven by a desire to channel his experiences into something impactful for both veterans and current servicemen. Ratcliffe echoed this sentiment, stating that seizing control is a vital part of mental health recovery, emphasizing that small decisions like diet and physical activity can significantly affect one’s well-being.
After completing their quest across the Atlantic, Ratcliffe and his crew plan to make their way to Northampton, England, bringing their expedition to a close. The previous record holders for the quickest four-person west to east crossing are noted as Leven Brown, Don Lennox, Ray Carroll, and Livar Nysted, who achieved their feat on June 17, 2010, starting their journey from Battery Park, New York.
To keep their supporters informed, the team intends to employ Elon Musk’s Starlink technology for daily updates, with aspirations of conducting a mid-journey media interview. Despite the challenges ahead, Jarvis humorously noted that undertaking such a monumental challenge might help diminish dependence on social media platforms, quipping about the lack of opportunity for checking TikTok or Instagram during such an engrossing endeavor.
As they embark on this journey, both Ratcliffe and Jarvis focus on the lessons learned through facing adversity. They encourage individuals to pursue authenticity in their lives, no matter the scale of their challenges. Ratcliffe concluded, stating, “Adversity is inevitable… from getting out of bed in the morning