Ocean Rowing Training Camp #1

As part of our preparation for the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic 2025, we’ve successfully completed our first training camp. The route took us straight across the infamous Bay of Biscay – from Brest in France down to Porto in Portugal. As far as we know, no rowing boat has ever attempted this crossing before – a small adventure driven by pioneering spirit.

134 hours at sea gave us everything a rower could ask for: raw nature, tough weather, and plenty of lessons. Dolphins played alongside us, whales appeared on the horizon, and even a few sunfish crossed our path. Conditions changed constantly – from tailwinds, sidewinds, and headwinds to mirror-flat seas and heavy waves. We had sunshine, rain, and everything in between. In perfect surf conditions, we even hit a top speed of 15.5 knots – pure adrenaline!

One of the main goals of the crossing was to refine our onboard routines and put our equipment to the test:

• two-hour rowing shifts
• smooth crew transitions
• sleep phases
• and above all: nutrition

Each team member burns between 7,000 and 12,000 calories a day . Some prefer up to six hot meals, others rely more on calorie shakes – fast, easy, and helpful for getting more sleep at night.

The core diet is made up of freeze-dried expedition meals , rehydrated with hot water from the Jetboil. The variety is huge – even for vegetarians like Lorenz. From lentil dal to chicken tikka masala to mac & cheese, the options kept spirits high.

During training we tested a wide range of brands, but the clear favorite was Lyofood. The key insight: avoid anything too fancy. Out there, meals need to be simple, filling, and easy to digest.

Snacks are a must – power bars, beef jerky, dried fruit, Haribos, and of course the guilty pleasure: a Snickers bar, which somehow tastes twice as good at 2 a.m, especially with some NoNormal Coffee on top of it. 

On board, we also had Chimpanzee bars and a stash of the classics. But when it came down to it, nothing beat a regular Snickers.

Hydration is just as critical as calories: lots of water, electrolyte drinks, and shakes. And then there’s the coffee – our trusted partner, NoNormal Coffee.

• The team mostly drank it a the first light of day or at dusk.
• Compared to instant coffee, the paste scored high: easy to use, resealable, space-saving.
• Great in wet conditions - if you are working with a large bag of instant and water gets in there - no bueno. 

For extra caffeine at night, some relied on gels (30–100 mg caffeine) – although few dared to drink or eat coffee (as a spread on our snacks) in the middle of the night to avoid risking a mad dash to the bucket.

People often ask how we survive the relentless 2 hours on / 2 hours off rhythm without going crazy. The truth: no magic trick.

For Lorenz, the routine is straightforward:

• Row for two hours
• Step into the cabin
• Eat and drink
• Set the alarm 10–15 minutes before the next shift to prepare again

You want to get up, because your teammate has already been grinding for two hours straight. That’s motivation enough.

The new team lineup clicked instantly – communication, support, and a healthy dose of humor carried us through long days and rough nights. A special highlight: Mark Slats joined not only as a teammate, but also as the builder of our new boat, the D34 “JACK” . A true racing machine that gives us massive advantages in speed, handling, and comfort compared to our old setup.

Discover the boat here.

The next training camp is set for October. Until then, it’s back to land training – on the rowing ergometer (nicknamed Second Love) for 1–3 hours a day, plus strength and stability work in the gym several times per week.

We love it – and we’re just getting started.

• Alex Brooker – Trainer of professional athletes, visionary, and driving force of the project. Strategic thinker and father of two.
• Alex Gammeter – Mountain guide and notary, adventurer at heart, thrives in every element.
• Mark Slats – Boat builder, founder of The Ocean Rowing Company, multiple world record holder and circumnavigator. Father of one.
• Lorenz Gammeter – Carpenter and head of a joinery company, nature lover and limit-pusher. Father of two.

Learn more about their adventure here