Burnley-born world record rower passes two-thirds mark of gruelling Atlantic challenge

Emma Wolstenholme, 43, is part of the Call to Earth crew rowing unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean to highlight climate action and marine conservation.

According to tracking information, the team has around 700 nautical miles left of the 3,000-mile crossing.

Emma, who attended St Hilda’s RC Girls’ School in Burnley and Nelson and Colne College, made headlines in 2023 after winning a world record as part of an all-female crew rowing around Great Britain.

The Call to Earth team are rowing in shifts 24 hours a day, relying entirely on solar power as they face testing conditions thousands of miles from land. Their routine includes two hours rowing and one hour resting during the day, with solo night watches of one hour on and two hours off.

So far, the crew have encountered pods of dolphins, flying fish and a six-foot blue shark, while battling gusts of 20 to 30 knots.

More recently, the team carried out a turtle rescue after spotting the animal trapped in a fishing net. The crew switched off the autohelm and rowed hard backwards to reach it.

Emma’s crewmate John Hammond was able to grab the turtle, while she grabbed a knife and fellow sailor Stacey Rivers cut it free.

Despite the physical and mental demands of the crossing, Emma said morale on board remained high.

She added: “Our watch routine is working exceptionally well, providing sleep, rest, and recovery, while still allowing us to push hard when it matters most.

“Being surrounded by water every day highlights just how valuable a sustainable approach to its use really is. While the ocean is all around us, our fresh water is carefully managed.

“We rely on solar power to run our critical systems and produce fresh water every other day, using our onboard water maker, making us fully self-sustaining.”

The unassisted boat is powered by solar panels, which run critical systems including a water maker that converts seawater into clean drinking water for hydration and meal preparation.

The crew is also accounting for every piece of plastic and waste used during the challenge.

The Atlantic row is being supported by business water retailer Water Plus, which has teamed up with Call to Earth to highlight sustainable practices and solutions to reduce carbon emissions.

Emma said: “Climate change is accelerating, and while the challenges can appear vast, solutions exist. Our mission sees us amplify this message with Water Plus, to inspire and increase actions on sustainable practices.”