Grace Church Rows Around the UK

How it started:

Rowing around the UK had been a dream of Grace’s since she started rowing as a teenager. She told her junior coach it was something she’d always wanted to do one day and at the start of this year, that coach got in touch about a crew looking for another rower for the GB Row Challenge. Grace met the team at the GB Row Challenge Centre in Portsmouth and went through the selection process, joining with only a couple of months to prepare compared to the rest of the crew, who had been training for a couple of years.

The challenge:

The GB Row Challenge involves rowing 2,000 miles around the UK entirely unsupported — no stepping onto land at any point, no outside assistance, and no supplies beyond what the crew carried with them from the start. The team slept, ate and lived entirely on board for the duration.

Alongside the physical challenge, the crew collected environmental data throughout the row — biodiversity, environmental DNA, microplastics, salinity, acoustics and temperature — helping monitor ocean health, climate change and ocean conservation.

Fewer than 30 people have ever completed this challenge. More people have been to the moon.

The result:

Grace and her crew finished in 38 days, 3 hours, 41 minutes and 25 seconds, having set off on June 14th — and in doing so, set three world records:

• Youngest woman ever to row around the UK unsupported

• Fastest mixed crew to row around the UK unsupported

• Fastest team of six to row around the UK unsupported

Crossing the line:

Grace described crossing the finish line under Tower Bridge, flare in hand, as the best moment of her life — hearing family and friends cheering the crew home after everything it took to get there, from training rows and qualifying courses to fundraising and securing sponsorship.

Highs and lows:

Grace speaks of countless unforgettable moments at sea: sunrises and sunsets every day, dolphins, whales and seals, and an impromptu swim off the south coast with the whole crew. But above all, she points to the team itself: the laughter, the camaraderie, and having each other’s backs throughout.

It wasn’t without its challenges. Strong winds and rough seas made crossing channels and catching tides difficult, particularly in areas like the North Sea. A fault with the solar charging system meant the crew’s water maker couldn’t always run, so they hand-pumped water during off-shifts. Cold, tired and wet at times, the crew simply made the most of every situation.

Congratulations to Grace on an extraordinary achievement!