UAE Trio Takes On Arctic Challenge by Rowing Across the Arctic Ocean

On August 1st, Ocean Guardian - a rowboat flying the UAE flag - set off on an epic 1,500 km expedition across the Arctic Ocean from Tromsø, Norway, to Longyearbyen, Svalbard. On board were three UAE residents, Toby Gregory, Oriagh Dempsey and Andy Savill, who are looking to break several Guinness World Records by taking on the Arctic Challenge - a gruelling trial against the elements that could last up to 25 days. 

In the buildup to their departure, the team engaged with over 200,000 students and more than 60 schools to highlight the critical issues of ocean conservation and plastic pollution. Their hope is to reach one million students globally by the end of November, to coincide with the UAE’s National Day celebrations on December 2nd. 

Throughout the arduous journey, the crew will conduct environmental experiments with the United Nations Environment Programme’s ‘Clean Seas’ Initiative, the expedition’s official partner. 

“This expedition is the ultimate challenge of human endurance and gruelling determination, but it’s also a call to action for protecting our planet,” Toby Gregory, crew member and founder of The Plastic Pledge, an awareness campaign against plastic pollution, says. “The Arctic Challenge is unique as it combines a historic first - an unassisted three-person row across the Arctic Ocean - with our mission to combat plastic pollution and advance scientific knowledge. Through our partnership with UNEP and extensive educational outreach, we aim to inspire global action and create a lasting impact.” 

The expedition aims to beat several Guinness World Records by becoming the first three-person team to row the Arctic Ocean, as well as by taking an unassisted rowing vessel from the northernmost latitude on a north-south row.