Indian Ocean 2025 is the second part of the Brain Waves Challenge which involves rowing across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans – creating a unique environment to generate critical and invaluable research data for Parkinson’s Disease and PTSD, directly from those living with these conditions.
Part 2 – Indian Ocean; Australia to Kenya
The second stage of the project will see a change to the crew. Billy will skipper a brand new mixed crew of four on a mainland to mainland, non-stop, unassisted crossing of the Indian Ocean, something never attempted before. Starting from Exmouth in Australia, the crew will row over 4,000 miles to Mombasa on Kenya’s Swahili coast. This is an altogether bigger and more challenging crossing and will see even the most experienced members of the crew pushed to their limits.
Part 2 – Indian Ocean; Australia to Africa
The second stage of the project will see a change to the crew. Billy will skipper a brand new mixed crew of four on a mainland to mainland, non-stop, unassisted crossing of the Indian Ocean, something never attempted before. Starting from Exmouth in Australia, the crew will row over 4,000 miles to Mombasa on Kenya’s Swahili coast. This is an altogether bigger and more challenging crossing and will see even the most experienced members of the crew pushed to their limits.
Part 1 complete!
Atlantic Ocean; the Canaries to the Caribbean
5th January 2020 – 22nd January 2020 Lanzarote to Cape Verde
27th January 2020 – 5th March 2020 Cape Verde to Antigua (2 NEW WORLD RECORDS)
On 5th January 2020 the Brain Waves crew – Alex Mason, Billy Taylor, Scott Butler and Liz Dennett – pushed off from Playa Blanca, Lanzarote on their bid to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Progress was excellent until the rudder was sheared from the boat 2 weeks into the crossing. After a dramatic rescue the successful recovery of their vessel 500 miles offshore, the crew found themselves on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde.
After some deep soul searching by all members of the crew Liz decided she could continue no further, whilst the remaining three decided to go make the repairs, regroup, and continue on as a trio.
38 days and over a million oar strokes later this hardy crew landed on the shores of Antigua – becoming the first people in the world to complete that route.
Part 1 complete!
Atlantic Ocean; the Canaries to the Caribbean
5th January 2020 – 22nd January 2020 Lanzarote to Cape Verde
27th January 2020 – 5th March 2020 Cape Verde to Antigua (2 NEW WORLD RECORDS)
On 5th January 2020 the Brain Waves crew – Alex Mason, Billy Taylor, Scott Butler and Liz Dennett – pushed off from Playa Blanca, Lanzarote on their bid to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Progress was excellent until the rudder was sheared from the boat 2 weeks into the crossing. After a dramatic rescue the successful recovery of their vessel 500 miles offshore, the crew found themselves on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde.
After some deep soul searching by all members of the crew Liz decided she could continue no further, whilst the remaining three decided to go make the repairs, regroup, and continue on as a trio.
38 days and over a million oar strokes later this hardy crew landed on the shores of Antigua – becoming the first people in the world to complete that route.
Proudly Supporting
Monkey Fist Adventures are proudly raising money and awareness for Race Against Dementia and Rock to Recovery.
Founded by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, after his wife Helen’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Race Against Dementia funds early-career researchers to accelerate progress towards a cure for dementia. With over 55 million people affected globally and someone diagnosed every three seconds, Race Against Dementia is taking immediate action to drive significant breakthroughs and develop leaders in the field. RAD’s vision is to win the race against dementia by accelerating global research towards a breakthrough cure with the utmost urgency. This will be achieved by coalescing the brightest minds from medicine, motorsport and engineering to make that happen.
R2R offers confidential one to one specialist change management coaching for members of the Armed Forces, 999 Services and their immediate family members, either face to face, via Zoom or by telephone, with a fully qualified change management coach. The charity covers England, Wales, Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man. This is a free service and R2R aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours. Sessions are available for as long as you need us. You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to – R2R works at your pace and what you feel comfortable with. Following our unique experiences, R2R recognises the need for rapid preventative interventions, specific coaching and assistance. R2R’s non-clinical approach is aimed at inspiring, coaching, motivating and supporting individuals to experience real and positive change in their lives by “rethinking your thinking”. R2R encourages everyone to engage in their own recovery and find their “rock”. No two client journeys are the same. Positive change is always possible.
The Research
Throughout the Brainwaves challenge, Monkey Fist Adventures are conducting research to benefit people and planet.
Microplastics Research with the University of Michigan
There are currently very few ways to actively sample the level of plastics that are floating in
our oceans today. Many of these approaches depend highly on manual, labour intensive
studies to confirm the presence and amount of plastics entering into our oceans. The data
we collect for Michigan University will be used to help develop a new way to detect and
monitor the movement and concentration of microplastics using satellite technology.
Mental Health Research with Oxford Brookes
Mental Health issues in the UK have gone largely ignored for generations and it is only
recently that people have felt comfortable to discuss conditions such as PTSD. This is
despite the fact that an estimated 3,800,000 people in the UK are believed to be living with
the condition. The research carried out by Oxford Brookes University will aim to provide a
better understanding of how exercise is beneficial for those suffering from anxiety and
depression. Public awareness of PTSD should and needs to be raised and the condition
destigmatised. We hope to use the media surrounding the row to do so.
Immersive Experience Collection with the University of Exeter
Access to the outdoors is beneficial for the body and mind. But, physical barriers to access mean that many people do not get to experience these benefits. The University of Exeter explore the multi-faceted uses of Virtual and Immersive technology to help provide outdoor experiences to those who are not able to enjoy them first hand. By filming 360 degree videos from the Indian Ocean, we will contribute to this project – giving a “real life” experience of our time at sea to generate innovative virtual experience.
Get on board!
Corporate Sponsors
The journey to get to the start line can be as difficult as the actual row itself and poses just as many challenges. The work that goes into the logistics and funding of the challenge is often the biggest obstacle to overcome and would simply not be possible without the help and support of sponsors.
Do you, or someone you know, own a business looking for a unique sponsorship opportunity with the benefits of advertising on an international platform? We have a range of customisable sponsor packages to suit all budgets.
Join the 100 club
Friends, Family & Individuals
To make the challenge happen we need to raise £82,000. We are inviting friends and family to become part of the 100 club by donating £100 to help us get to the start.
Member benefits include: your name on our boat, your name on our website (if you want it on there) and we will ask all 100 club members to write us a letter / postcard / story / draw us a picture (whatever you want to do) which we will open on the boat and share on social media.
Join the 250 club
Local & Small Businesses
We are inviting local and small businesses to become part of the 250 club by donating £250 to help us get to the start. You get: your company logo on the outside of the boat, mention on our social media channels and your company name and hyperlink on our website.
All donations contribute directly towards the cost of getting the crew to the start line. All money raised above this cost will be split between our charity partners.
The Challenge
The crew will have to work together as a team to ensure both crossings are successful. Unsupported means just that, and they will have to deal with anything that gets thrown at them. There is no stopping and calling a specialist out to help with repairs, no popping to A&E for medical attention. Although the crew will be able to use a satellite phone to seek advice they, and they alone, will be the ones who have to deal with any and all problems they encounter. If they do get into trouble and need help it is entirely possible that they will have to wait for up to 5 days for the cavalry to arrive. Everything that they will need will have to be loaded onto the boat before they leave and once they have left there is no turning back.
BLISTERS
SHIPS
SHARKS
DEHYDRATION
The combined distance for both crossings will be in the region of 8,500 miles and during the Indian Ocean crossing they could easily find themselves out on the water and having to be self reliant for over 100 days. During that time they will experience sleep deprivation, extreme fatigue, massive weight loss, huge seas and the only place that all 4 crew will have to shelter is a tiny cabin no larger than the size of a small double bed.
The boat is 29ft long, a little under 6ft wide and will be the crews life support system for the time that they are on the water. For both the Atlantic and the Indian the crew will be rowing in pairs and will be running on a shift pattern of two hours rowing followed by 2 hours resting for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For the Indian Ocean crew that means for approximately 100 days nobody will be getting more than 90 minutes of sleep at a time.
STORMS
HALLUCINATIONS
HEALTH
EXHAUSTION
From the second the crews push off until they next set foot on dry land, the boat will be everything to them. They will either be on deck rowing or they will be in the tiny cabin at the back of the boat which is about two thirds the size of a double bed. Inside this they will rest, cook, eat, sleep navigate, communicate with the outside world and each other, patch up any injuries, write blogs and film vlogs, carry out any equipment repairs…in fact the only thing that they won’t be doing is in the cabin is going to the toilet. This is an alfresco affair that bears a striking resemblance to a bucket on deck because it is a bucket on deck. Lovely when it’s sunny and calm but try to imagine yourself balanced atop said bucket when there are howling winds and towering waves crashing on deck…
The Brain Waves challenge is supported by:
250 Club
100 Club
Sandra Pickersgill
Philip Mason
Lee Roger
Sarah Banks
Luke Cooper-Berry
Lucinda Pickersgill
Eleanor Forbes
Simon Lee
Peter Slade
Julia Yaxley
Roger Yaxley
Jim Scullion
Sam Parker
Shirley Parker
Jackie Orange
Meredith Burns
Paddy Hatton
Guy Hatton
Alistair Hearn
Chris Nelson
Virginia Erskine
Joe Erskine
Stuart Haskell
Friendship Group
Wanda’s Warriors
Matthew Pancaldi
John Clark
Jo Bradshaw
Sandie & Graham Paisley
Dave Guthrie
Carol D’anna
Ryan O’keefe
Ken Styles
Pauline Thom
Mike McCune
Kathy Nightingale
Terence Salazar
Kian O’keefe
The Gedney Family
Lynda Mitty
Good luck from the Cooper-Berries
Luke Cooper-Berry
I wish Rachel, her friends and comrades all the very best in your upcoming exciting but dangerous adventure. I wish you all the very best with calm seas and fine weather. I will pray for your well being and safe arrival.
Kenneth Styles
A massive good luck to all the amazing members of the Brain Waves crew on your awesome challenge. Look after Alex (as you’ve pointed out, she’s only small and easily misplaced. Please don’t lose her!).?You’re all mad, but equally awesome. GOOD LUCK ?
Sandra and Philip
Good luck to the Brain Waves team can’t wait to follow you on your amazing adventure!
Ryan O’Keefe
Good luck to Monkey Fist Adventures and the crew of the Brain Waves challenge from Wanda’s Warriors at Wanda’s Effective Fitness, Lanzarote. “Fridge pickers wear big knickers, those who stay strong wear a thong “ ???????? ? Find your mantra and stay strong guys. Safe journey from all of us. GOOD LUCK ?
Wanda’s Warriors
People like yourselves have crazy ideas/schemes to help others and then put incredible strain on yourselves physically, emotionally and mentally to achieve these ideas. Rowing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Phenomenal and inspirational human beings.
Stuart Haskell
Good luck and safe journey to all the crew. Hang onto your hats and don’t let go of those oars!
Roger and Julia Yaxley
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