A 2,000-mile mission to map the health of Britain’s seas

But for Nautilus, this is about far more than endurance. Their boat will become a floating research platform, helping scientists build one of the most comprehensive datasets on the health of the UK’s coastal waters. Every stroke will contribute to research on microplastics, sea temperature, salinity, biodiversity and underwater noise pollution, supporting long-term efforts to understand how Britain’s seas are changing.

Built by grit, driven by purpose

Team Nautilus brings together a diverse mix of backgrounds – environmental consultants, a paramedic, and a former British Army soldier – united by a shared commitment to challenge themselves while contributing to marine science.

Skipper Aoife Luscombe is returning to the GB Row Challenge after her previous attempt in 2024 was cut short by severe weather off the Cornish coast. Rather than deterring her, the experience strengthened her resolve.

“We were caught out by really bad weather just north of Cornwall and had to call the Coastguard. The boat was damaged in the recovery, and we couldn’t continue, which was gutting,” Luscombe reflects. “But I came back thinking it was too good an opportunity to walk away from. So, I decided to put a team together again and met all these awesome humans who decided to take the row and ride with me.”

For Luscombe, the expedition brings together her professional life in sustainability with her passion for rowing: “We’re not just rowing around Great Britain as a physical challenge – we’re adding to a five-year dataset on the health of our coastal waters. It’s about pairing sport with science and using this platform to inspire people. Not everyone needs to row around the UK, but everyone can do their bit in their own way.”

From first strokes to open seas

Not everyone on board arrived with rowing experience. For First Mate Matt Bishop, the challenge marks a shift from land and mountain-based expeditions to the realities of ocean endurance.

“One end of the oar to the other has been a new challenge in itself,” Bishop says. “I came into this looking for something that would push me out of the normal rat race. The physical challenge was the initial draw, but the sustainability side has really grown on me. It’s made me realise the scale of the issues our oceans face.”

Bishop sees the expedition as a powerful way to connect personal challenge with collective responsibility: “Sport gives you a different way to talk about environmental issues. You’re not just pointing at the problem – you’re doing something practical that helps build the evidence base for change.”

For Becky Robb, who had never rowed before joining the team, the leap into ocean rowing has been both daunting and motivating.

“Why bother rowing down the Serpentine when you can go around the UK?” she jokes. “I’d never rowed before and had never even heard of the GB Row Challenge. But the combination of adventure and environmental impact just clicked. It felt like a really tangible way to do something meaningful.”

Robb sees Nautilus as part of a wider movement of citizen science: “Working in sustainability, it can sometimes feel like progress is slow. This feels different. It’s hands-on. It shows that ordinary people can contribute to real scientific research, not just talk about the problem.”

A floating laboratory

As the crew rows in two-hour shifts, their vessel will function as a mobile research station, collecting continuous environmental data. The information gathered will feed into long-term monitoring programmes led by the University of Portsmouth and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, helping scientists track rising sea temperatures, microplastic concentrations and changes in marine biodiversity.

The challenge provides rare, in-situ data from parts of the UK coastline that are not covered by traditional monitoring buoys. Recent findings have already highlighted rapid warming in areas such as the Celtic and Irish Seas, underlining the importance of consistent, long-term data collection.

The toughest rowing race in the world

Circumnavigating Great Britain presents a very different test to trans-ocean rowing. The crew will face complex tidal systems, narrow channels, and volatile weather patterns, with powerful tidal races capable of reaching speeds faster than many small boats can sustain.

“The tides and the weather make this uniquely difficult,” Luscombe explains. “You can get everything right and still find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Preparation is everything – but you also need humility in the face of the sea.”

For the team, success will be measured not just in miles rowed, but in returning safely and amplifying the scientific and social impact of their journey.

Making waves for change

As Team Nautilus prepares for its June 2026 departure, the crew is also seeking partners and supporters aligned with their mission of marine conservation, sustainability and resilience. Their journey will be tracked live, offering a rare, real-time window into the realities of endurance sport at sea – and the changing state of Britain’s coastal waters.

Together, Nautilus hopes to show how sport can be a powerful platform for science, storytelling and change – proving that even the toughest races can serve a bigger purpose.