The Coastal Commanders visited Rannoch Adventure for their Open Day to check out prospective vessels for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 2026. Read on to see what they discovered from the world's leading ocean rowing boat manufacturer.
In April 2024, our team, the Coastal Commanders, attended the annual Rannoch Adventure Open Day at the company's headquarters in Burnham on Crouch. Rannoch Adventure is a leading manufacturer of race-winning ocean rowing boats.
This open day would be our first opportunity to get up close and personal with an ocean rowing boat. With over 2 and a half years to run until our row, this open day made us feel like our journey to the start line was about to begin. We were hosted by Scott and treated to fillet steak, dauphine potatoes, and red wine before setting off early the following day for Rannoch HQ.
The open day provided us with our first opportunity to closely examine an ocean rowing boat and allowed us to really appreciate the size of it. Jon thought it was bigger than he imagined, Scott and Martin, smaller! During the open day, we were able to explore all the different models of Rannoch ocean rowing boats and discuss our options for the 2026 World’s Toughest Row: whether to race the Atlantic in the new RX45 model or the tried and trusted R45 predecessor. We gained valuable insights and had the chance to speak directly with the manufacturer.
Following the open day, we made our final decision on our boat choice for the 2026 World’s Toughest Row. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement.
The event also provided the opportunity to connect with useful contacts and suppliers, including nutrition suppliers, Satellite Communication suppliers, and an expert on onboard water makers. We also learned about boat care and maintenance. Additionally, we were inspired by a talk from quadriplegic athlete Alex Lewis, who aims to row from Falmouth to Dover in an ocean rowing boat specially modified for him by Rannoch Adventure.
The day at Rannoch Adventure was also an excellent opportunity to meet with other teams preparing for Atlantic races. We enjoyed the positive atmosphere and had the chance to see how other 2026 teams were planning for the daunting task of preparing for an ocean row.
We extend our thanks to all those at Rannoch Adventure for organising an extremely useful event.
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