Hitchin adventurer in 3,000-mile charity row across Atlantic

Jack Southward, who grew up in Hitchin and was a pupil at The Priory School, is part of the Atlantic Sea Donkeys team - made up of four men from England, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands.

Together, they are taking part in the World's Toughest Row - racing from the shores of San Sebastian de La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.

Jack grew up in Hitchin and went to The Priory School. (Image: Courtesy of Colin Southward) The race began in early December, attracting teams from around the world, and Jack's team have so far rowed more than 2,000 miles.

Jack's proud dad, Colin, said: "They have experience 10-metre-high waves, and seen dolphins, whales, marlin, turtles and flying fish. At night, they see shooting stars and bioluminescence. 

"Occasionally, they have to leap over the side of the boat to clean any growth off the bottom, but they have to be tied on at all times.

"They take it in turns to row, and can sleep for short periods in a tiny cabin at either end of the boat. 

"There is no engine, and they have to make their own fresh water and carry enough dried food for at least eight weeks."

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Jack's team, who hope to finish the race on January 22, are raising money for GiveDirectly - a charity that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest people.

GiveDirectly believe people living in poverty deserve the dignity to choose for themselves how best to improve their lives - cash enables that choice.

A spokesperson for the Atlantic Sea Donkeys said: "We’ve chosen GiveDirectly because we agree with their effective, research-based, bottom-up approach to solving poverty.

"It’s motivating to know that the funds we raise will go straight into the hands of real people, giving them the agency to change their own lives."

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He continued: "The Atlantic Sea Donkeys are an international team of kayakers, climbers, skiers and bikers who, after countless individual adventures, have teamed up to take on the world’s toughest row.

"Between us, we’ve climbed in the Dolomites, back-packed Australia, white-water kayaked on New Zealand’s West Coast, run across Tasmania, and cycled from London to Istanbul, but we’ve never crossed an ocean.

"The World’s Toughest Row combines our love of unique experiences, adventure sports, and fun.

"Taking on a challenge like this with close friends is an incredible growth, learning and lifelong memory opportunity."

To make a donation, visit givingwhatwecan.org/fundraisers/atlantic-sea-donkeys-take-on-the-world-s-toughest-row-for-give-directly.