Couple to spend 60 days at sea in charity row around Britain

A Scottish couple are setting sail on a world record-breaking rowing challenge to raise money for life-saving charities.

Allan Lipp and Mhairi Ross, known as Stormy and Steth, are hoping to circumnavigate Great Britain by rowing boat.

The challenge, titled the Long Row Home, is part of efforts to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

The charities are close to the couple’s hearts, with Mr Lipp a coxswain of the Wick lifeboat and Ms Ross a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service and a volunteer navigator with the RNLI.

With a combined 35 years of seagoing experience, the couple will depart Wick, in Caithness, in May to spend about 60 days at sea on the 2,000 nautical mile journey.

Mr Lipp said it will be a “huge challenge”, but one the couple are looking forward to.

To achieve the record, the pair will be completely unassisted and will be unable to touch land or accept provisions throughout the journey.

They will have to rely on their carefully packed supplies stowed on board, along with a desalinator unit to produce drinking water.

Their carbon-fibre rowing vessel measures just seven metres from bow to stern.

Ms Ross said: “Our journey is about pushing boundaries and testing our limits. First and foremost, we need to be physically fit for the challenge so we are maintaining a strict training schedule alongside our busy jobs and all the other preparations that are necessary before we set off.

“We very much appreciate all the support that we have had to date. Every contribution, large or small, makes a real difference, so now we are looking to others to join us on this adventure as we strive to make history and support the life-saving work of the RNLI and SCAA.”

More than £2,000 of the couple’s £30,000 target has already been raised. Donations can be made at https://justgiving.com/team/stormyandsteth.