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Island Team Announce Plans To Row Across Atlantic

Three friends from the Isle of Wight have come together for the ultimate ocean encounter.

The Mermaid Atlantic team — Chris Mannion, Paul Berry and Xavier Baker — will compete in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2023 to increase awareness of the preservation of ocean habitats and raise funds for marine-focused environmental charities.

The team will seek out sustainable suppliers and refurbish an older Rannoch boat to minimise impact on the environment and highlight effects of waste disposal and human activity on the natural world.

Mermaid Atlantic will be raising funds for The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Surfers Against Sewage and the Seahorse Trust.

Xavier Baker, Mermaid Atlantic crewmate, commented:

“We are all focused and determined chaps with a good understanding of the sea and certainly know not to underestimate her.

"We’re united in our passion for preserving the oceans and are thrilled to undertake the Atlantic challenge to spotlight these causes.”

The team is backed by Isle of Wight spirit brand, Mermaid Gin, as the headline sponsor.

The team will leave La Gomera in the Canary Islands in December 2023. They will need to row 3,000 miles around the clock to cross the Atlantic and arrive in Antigua within 35 days to break the record in their class.

Information about donations and sponsorship can be found online or by contacting [email protected].

Follow the Mermaid Atlantic team’s adventure on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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