The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the world’s toughest row-ing race, was launched on 9th November when nine of the crews assembled at London’s historic St Katharine Docks and seized the chance to meet their fellow competitors and to apply some Talisker single malt whisky to name their boats.

Less than a month now remains before a total of 17 ocean-rowing crews depart from the Spanish port of San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands.

They will then row the ‘Columbus Route’ – more than 2,549 nautical miles (4,600 kilometres) across the mid-Atlantic to Port St Charles in Barbados. Amongst the crews participating in the epic charity fundraising event are Row for Freedom, who are aiming to become the first all-female crew of six to row across the Atlantic.

The challenge will also feature the Row2Recovery crew: a crew of four seriously injured and two able-bodied soldiers, who are raising money to help wounded servicemen and women, and have so far raised over half a million pounds.

Competitors are expected to arrive in Barbados from mid-January onwards, taking roughly 50 days to complete the challenge. All will spend Christmas and New Year at sea. Regular updates will be posted on the Talisker Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Talisker.