World's Toughest Rowing Race

Tunbridge Wells Hospital worker takes on the challenge.

Physician Associate Jessica Plail is hoping to set a new world record when she takes part in one of the toughest rowing races in the world in 2022.

Jess, who works in the trauma and Orthopaedic Department at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, is one of four NHS workers which make up a female team of six called All Systems Row. The race, organised by GB Row Challenge, will see the team row unassisted over 2,000 miles around Great Britain when they set off on Saturday 4 June 2022. As if that wasn’t tough enough, they’ve also set themselves an ambitious target of beating the current record held by an all-female crew.

She said: “To date, only six crews, including one female crew of four called the Segals, have completed this race. The ladies’ Guinness World Record for the fastest row around the British mainland, which was set in August 2010 by the Seagals, stands at 51 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes! We hope to challenge this time and in doing so gain a new world record.”

The race will see them start at London Tower Bridge, row down the River Thames in London towards the sea where they will then row in a clockwise direction around Great Britain before making their way back up the Thames to their starting point.

“This is an unassisted race meaning from start to finish we will be self-sufficient and cannot stop or take on provisions,” added the 33 year old from Tunbridge Wells.

“Our boat is 10 meters long with two small cabins at each end. During our journey we will be reliant on solar energy for powering our navigation systems, water maker and electrical items.

“As we’re are all passionate about environmental causes we’ll be using the challenge as a way to raise money for a small, Brighton-based charity called Renewable World which is striving to make renewable energy accessible to all, helping to end extreme poverty and reduce climate change.”