Meet Team Force Horizon: Kip Wells (36) and Chris Ambler (36). The pair grew up in Lincolnshire and met at school – and are now preparing to row across the Atlantic Ocean in aid of the Jon Egging Trust!
The pair will be setting off from La Gomera on 14th December, aiming to reach Antigua by oar power alone, as part of a global event known as the World’s Toughest Row and it’s called that for a reason; they’ll be rowing in shifts 24 hours a day, battling 40ft waves, extreme temperatures, storms, sleep deprivation… and maybe even a shark or a marlin.
They’ll also be taking a Red Arrows teddy bear named Capt. Jack Sp’Arrow along for the ride! Beginning life as an honorary pilot at RAF Waddington and signed by the 2025 Red Arrows team, Capt Sp’Arrow will join Chris and Kip on their epic voyage before being raffled off to one lucky winner with all proceeds going to JET. All raffle details can be found here: [LINK].
But back to the serious matter of The World’s Toughest Row… Not only are Chris and Kip rowing the Atlantic Ocean, they are also racing to beat other teams, previous records and their own personal goals. They have the added challenge of managing their own food, water and navigation – all while living on board a boat just over 7 metres long.
They’ll also be responsible for any emergency repairs on the boat, which will range from high-tech to ad-hoc. Last year’s all-female team, Vibe the Wave, plugged a hole in their boat with a champagne bottle and some duct tape, after they were attacked by a marlin.
The boat – a custom-built Rannoch R25 – is named ‘Memento Mori’, a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die” which is a nod to mortality, motivation, and doing something meaningful with the life you’ve been given.
The boat, now wrapped and fully kitted out, includes a tiny cabin barely big enough for two sleeping bags, solar panels for power, and – somewhat unglamorously – a sturdy bucket for a toilet. It will be their home for an estimated six weeks.
For Kip, who currently serves in the Royal Air Force, the connection to JET is direct; and for both rowers it’s also deeply personal. They’ve spoken publicly about the struggles they faced at school – and how a programme like JET’s Blue Skies would have changed their lives.
You can follow along with their journey across the Atlantic here, or follow their social media: Instagram – @force_horizon, Facebook – Force Horizon
To donate to their challenge, click here.
For your chance to win Capt. Jack Sp’Arrow as he returns from the Atlantic, raffle tickets are available to purchase now at £5 per ticket. Enter here.