Crew to make history as first all-female Scotland team to row across ocean

The four women from Cromarty, Dunoon, Arbroath, and Glasgow are to face the challenging race which spans over 3000 miles and undertaken in a 7-metre ocean rowing boat without any external assistance.

Each of them will row for two hours on and two hours off continuously for up to 60 days. The race begins on December 12, 2025, with up to 40 teams participating from around the world. 

The team, proudly known as Scotland the Wave, are raising funds for four charities: Breast Cancer UK, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, and SIMBA, which supports families affected by baby loss.

They have already raised tens of thousands of pounds for their chosen charities, with £86,134 of their initial £120,000 target already pledged.

Scotland the Wave will also make history as the first all-female team from Scotland to attempt an ocean row. Andrena McShane-Kerr, 41, from Glasgow, founded the team three years ago.

“We’ve just returned from watching this year’s race kick off in La Gomera, and it’s brought home just how enormous this challenge is,” she said.

“We’re ready to give it our all, but we’re under no illusions—this will push us to our limits.”

Two of the women, Nicky Matthews from Arbroath, and Fiona Deakin from Cromarty, will be marking their 60th birthdays at sea.

While seasoned in coastal rowing and no strangers to the unpredictable nature of the ocean, they admit that the prospect of facing waves as high as double-decker buses is daunting.

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Heather McCallum from Dunoon and Glasgow, has found joy in the unexpected as the team’s fundraising efforts take off.

“Organizing events to support our journey has been such an adventure of its own,” she shared.

“From wading through rivers to collect plastic ducks for our duck race to hosting black-tie dinners, auctions, quiz nights, and race nights, the response from our friends, families, and local businesses has been overwhelming. The generosity of our communities keeps us going.”

They group are calling on supporters to rally behind them by following them on social media, donating to their GoFundMe page, or attending one of their fundraising events.

For more information on the team’s journey and to donate, visit here.