ROYAL NAVY HMS OARDACIOUS

ROWING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

In January 2020 four Royal Navy Submariners became the first ever Royal Navy team, (and then fastest military team in history), to row any ocean.

Building on this success, a crew went again in 2022/23.

They took their place as the fastest military team to ever row the Atlantic, completing the 3,000-mile journey in 35 days, 17 hours and 19 minutes.

Committed to continue the mission into 2023/24 and beyond, this is HMS Oardacious.

THE CHALLENGE

The World’s toughest row. The premier event in Ocean Rowing. A battle taking competitors more than 3,000 miles west across the Atlantic.

The Annual Race begins in early December with up to 30 teams from across the globe travelling west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua.

The Atlantic Challenge will see the HMS Oardacious crew face many team and personal tests, from isolation and boredom to hunger and thirst.

As committed Submariners, they are well trained and experienced in facing down such obstacles on a daily basis. Above the water though, with the additional physical and mental effort required, it will be a different set of circumstances, including:

  • Eating 6,000 calories each day
  • Drinking 10 litres of filtrated water every day
  • Suffering from sores, broken skin and flying fish!

 

NOW CHALLENGE YOUR CLASS

Your students can now learn more about the challenge, what's involved and why the Oardacious Team have taken it on. They can also experience the sacrifices and decisions needed for such a conquest, working through the lessons to make the tough decisions for themselves.

 

All content for this programme was created by Lt Cdr Sim Low RNR and WO2 Russ Piner RM.

INTRODUCING HMS OARDACIOUS

These resources will introduce you and your class to the Atlantic Challenge, HMS Oardacious and its crew, the Royal Navy and the Submarine Service. Welcome to the world's toughest row.

GET STARTED

DESIGN AND BUILD

Your learners are tasked with designing and building their own oar-some ocean-going rowboat. 

VIEW LESSON

PSHCE LESSON

Your learners will imagine they're one of the crew and create a mind map outlining the mental and physical challenges being faced.

VIEW LESSON

WATER FILTRATION

Your learners will be asked about the various types of water filtration, with the lesson split into age groups.

VIEW AGES 10 - 14 LESSON

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VIEW AGES 15 - 16 LESSON

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Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

HMS Oardacious was established to provide Mental Health and Wellbeing support to the Submarine community. That remains our mission. Working with the fantastic Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), in 2019 the campaign raised over £110,000 to establish the Submarine Family charity.

Focused on the needs of the sailors, marines and their families the RNRMC has funded projects and facilities boosting morale for those who serve today. It also distributes millions of pounds annually to military charities which care for the children, families and veterans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

HOW THE RNRMC HELPS

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