Rowing Across The Atlantic With The Help Of Lithium Power
It is a difficult undertaking to row across the Atlantic Ocean in a race; it is considerably more difficult to do it in a tiny boat. The four-woman Salty Science team will participate in the annual Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, where they will row over 3,000 miles and spend 40 to 60 days at sea, all without any assistance. Most importantly, the Salty Science team is taking on this enormous task to collect money for organizations that support ocean conservation.
How Salted Science Began
Chantale Bégin, a team member who enjoys sailing a lot, teaches marine biology at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa. Chantale has a long history of involvement in programs aimed at protecting the health of the Atlantic Ocean, including studies in marine biology and coral reef ecology across the Caribbean. Chantale has prioritized training and assisting students in doing fieldwork and gaining practical experience with marine conservation throughout her numerous jobs.
Chantale often leads groups of students to the Caribbean for field-intensive courses; it was in this role that she first met Noelle Helder and Lauren Shea, two of her current rowing partners. Chantale, Noelle, and Lauren all had a passion for conservation, which inspired them to decide to row across the Atlantic to raise money for their cause. Chantale's Ph.D. advisor Isabelle Côté is their fourth team member. The four ladies represent three "academic generations" as a result!
The charity Team Salty Science is supporting, how the team is preparing for their trip, and the system they have constructed to consistently power their long-distance expedition are all covered in the interview with Chantale that is included below.
Why did you decide to accept this challenge?
"The notion to row across an ocean was inspired by our common love of adventure. We all choose to support organizations that work in marine conservation since we have all committed our professional lives to protecting the oceans. Additionally, since we all met in an academic context and have a strong belief in the value of experience learning, we are very eager to collect money to motivate and educate the next generation of marine conservationists. I founded Shellback Expeditions, a charity that promotes coral reef research and monitoring in the Eastern Caribbean, in 2016. The group is currently funding this study in combination with my USF field course curriculum. Now that Salty Science is a part of Shellback Expeditions, the money we generate via our ocean rowing campaign may be deducted from your taxes since we are a 501(c)3 charity. The four of us are really eager to take on such a huge task, to spend so much time on the water, and to help raise money for ocean conservation.
How are you getting ready for your trip?
"While we all have a lot of boating experience, we are all working really hard to prepare for this race. Although I am a skilled sailor and have crossed oceans, rowing a boat across requires a quite different set of preparations. The preparation is undoubtedly multifaceted, and in addition to the physical training, we also need to consider safety and make extensive logistical plans. Our team of trainers is assisting us with both our physical and mental readiness. We practice on rowing machines, coastal rowing boats, and strength equipment for roughly ten hours a week. To be prepared for any eventuality that may come, we all need to brush up on our sea survival skills, put all of the boat's systems through as much exercise as possible, and plan as much as we can. We are spending time practicing what to do if one of us becomes ill while on the boat and making sure that we are having open discussions about our hesitations and anxieties now, before we are out on the sea, since you never know what could happen there. To see what other people who have attempted to cross the ocean have dealt with, I am reading tales of those who have done it, listening to podcasts, and watching documentaries. The ocean has many unknowns and unpredictable elements, so this all helps.
What charities and causes are you supporting financially?
"We have put a lot of time and effort into making sure that we are able to get sponsors and raise money for this competition. Our goal is to raise $500,000, which will enable us to pay for the race's expenses and provide at least $100,000 in donations to each of the organisations we are supporting. Shellback Expeditions, GreenWave, and Bamfield Marine Sciences Center are the three charities, and they are all committed to marine conservation and education. I founded a nonprofit organization called Shellback, which funds fieldwork for college-level field courses as well as research and monitoring projects in the Eastern Caribbean. Regenerative ocean farming, or aquaculture with no negative environmental effect, is the emphasis of GreenWave. They regularly educate new ocean farmers in the methods they have created, allowing more of our seafood to originate from farms that use sustainable practices. Last but not least, students studying marine science may take excellent field courses at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center on Vancouver Island to develop their abilities.
The boat and propulsion system of Salty Science include:
"UK boat maker Rannoch Adventures sold us an R45. The lithium phosphate RB100 battery from BENWEI powers the boat. Our vessel is a three-, four-, or five-person ocean rowing boat supported by solar panels. The boat can self-right when it capsizes and is quite safe. The boat has two staterooms, and two people will always be rowing while the rest sleep, eat, and take care of other duties. In addition to electronics, the navigation system, and navigation lights, which all contribute to guarantee that the boat will be prepared for an ocean journey, there is space aboard the boat for 60 days' worth of food and a water maker.
Salty Science's decision to use lithium:
We chose lithium batteries because we were certain they would be the most dependable option for this event. The earlier batteries we had previously used required regular recharges, ran out of power too quickly, and abruptly failed. On the other side, lithium batteries have done a great job of holding onto their energy while still providing reliable power. This is crucial since the boat runs entirely on battery power, including essential devices like our water maker, navigation, lighting, and satellite phones.
