Childhood friends, Tim and Rufus, met future teammates and Norweigan cousins, Simen and Thor, during their intrepid excursions across the world. Their like-minded, can-do attitude took them from hiking across Europe to taking on their biggest challenge yet- rowing across the Atlantic ocean.
Why, you might ask- well, why not?, as Rufus quickly responded after being asked the very same question. He explained how the Enginoars want to harness their adventurous enthusiasm to impact something bigger than themselves and, as a result, are rowing the 4800km journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua, in the name of Engineers Without Borders Norway and Engineers Without Borders UK.
The journey will take approximately 30-40 days, rowing in consistent two-hour rotations and will require two years of preparation. After watching his brother take on the monumental challenge in 2019, Rufus knew how essential finding a cause they believed in was going to be when completing the race;
“If we [were] going to do this, we [were] going to need to focus on the why. It got so many of the teams to the starting line and over the finish line. Very often when teams were rowing and felt energy sapped, they focused on that why.”
The team’s shared drive to ensure the preservation of Planet A is central to their motivations. Thor’s experience in sustainability and their careers in engineering made Engineers Without Borders organisations an obvious choice. In addition, teammate Tim has first-hand experience with Engineers Without Borders UK, having participated in one of our educational programmes a few years ago;
“For the first time, I was able to apply the theory I had studied to a project that could make a positive impact on the environment and see the wider context of where engineering could lead me. Not only did it change my outlook on sustainable engineering, but it inspired me to specialise in renewable energy and sustainable design in subsequent studies and for my dissertation.”
The team has begun training, persevering through the pandemic, adjusting their methods to suit the varying degrees of social distancing accordingly. They are using the planet’s natural beauty to enhance their training experience through their imaginative wild rowing concept. This involves hiking to an area of extreme natural beauty, whilst carrying a rowing machine where they then complete their training session overlooking a Norwegian Fjord or Devonshire moorland.
The Enginoars commitment to raise awareness and funds through this grueling challenge is a stark reminder of the commitment we must all make to ensure a sustainable future for all people and the planet. We look forward to highlighting the Enginoars’ efforts as they continue their training and set sail in December 2022.
To learn more and keep up to date with the team’s progress, explore the Enginoars website, Go Fund Me page or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
