A team of intrepid travellers have set out on an epic mission to conquer the Atlantic and raise money for a sea protection charity backed by Mornflake Might Oats.
One Ocean Crew, four female friends in their 30s, are spending Christmas and New Year in a boat as they test themselves against Mother Nature in the 3,000-miles Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
And the fab four, who had little rowing experience until they started training earlier this year, have set themselves an ambitious goal to be the fastest all-female team past the finish line while battling the physical and mental extremes of weeks out on the open ocean.
They set off from the Canary Island, La Gomera, feeling a mix of 'excitement and nerves' after saying emotional goodbyes to their loved ones.
Their Skipper and Medical Lead, Buckinghamshire-based physiotherapist Jennifer Cullom, spoke of the 'buzz' of being surrounded by rowing teams from across the globe.
Some 30 teams were gathered in 'race village' helping to prepare each other mentally for the feat of endurance.
She said "The atmosphere here is amazing! We have taken our boat out for a spin and are all prepped and ready to go."
Jennifer and friends will end their voyage in about a month's time on reaching the Caribbean Island of Antiqua.
Undertaking the challenge with her are London-based landscape architect Emily Woodason and corporate investigator Janette Potgieter and Cornwall kayaking and wilderness expedition guide Erin Bastian.
They are rowing to raise money and awareness of the Sea Ranger Service which is dedicated to restoring ocean biodiversity by managing and implementing marine protected areas.
The charity carries out vital work creating 'national parks' of the ocean gibing the sea chance to recover yet the friends had a difficult talk finding sponsorship up against the economy difficulties of the pandemic.
They were delighted to find support in Mornflake, historic millers of oat products since 1675 and recognised champions of sustainability.
"We were thrilled when Mornflake agreed to be our headline partner,” said Jennifer. "Their mill is powered by a wind turbine and they believe there is no excuse for waste. We love that their values match ours and are excited to have them on our team."
To power their row, the teammates are starting each day with energy-boosting Mornflake Superfast porridge oats - pre-prepared for the voyage in sealed vacuum packs.
Jennifer added: "To row two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours a day for more than 40 days, we need some serious fuel. Consuming more than 4,000 calories a day, breakfast is a key meal for us.
"Mornflake Superfast porridge oats are the ultimate fuel to give us steady energy. Facing sleep deprivation and 20ft high waves, we need this energy and resilience in bucket loads."
The company also supports the UK Triathlon series encouraging the nation to take on an extreme physical challenge alongside various regional initiatives to promote fitness and healthy lifestyles.
Mornflake Managing Director James Lea said: "As a major manufacturer we are proud that only 0.01% of what we makes ends up as waste. We recycle and reuse everything we can, and any by-product of our oats is used as feed for local livestock.
"Supporting One Ocean Crew was a good way of highlighting how passionate we are about saving the planet and our 'Waste Not, Want Not' approach to running our business. In this day and age, we believe there is no excuse for waste.
"We are proud to be behind One Ocean Crew with their brave effort to raise awareness of ocean protection and encourage people to live more sustainably."
The team's progress will be charted by Mornflake on social media. For more on their mission go to www.mornflake.com