As we speak, 103 people have just begun a journey that will take them 3,000 nautical miles (4,800km) across the Atlantic Ocean. Most, if not all, are doing it to raise money for different charities.

In the best of conditions, the trip can take 30 days. For solo rowers (there are seven), it’ll take much longer.

Some of these people are experienced rowers, others are relative novices and taking to the water is not something that comes natural.

All of them are determined to finish and complete the toughest challenge on earth – the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.

To call it the toughest challenge is probably not even fair – it’s a bit harder than that, which is probably why far fewer people have rowed an ocean than climbed the Everest.

The crossing throws at you tremendous conditions. Right now, many rowers are facing four meter waves in boats that are barely double that length.

Virtually all have suffered from seasickness, broken oars, and have to come to terms with a new way of living that entails rowing for two hours and having two hours ‘off’.

When I say off, I mean they have to eat, maintain the boat, fix anything broken, eat, clean themselves (sort of), and sleep. Getting an hour’s rest is probably a luxury.

Their ‘toilet’ facilities consist of a bucket. Period. A bucket.

These rowers – because they all now deserve the title – are also taking on such a huge challenge for their own personal reasons. The best we can do for them is follow them on the tracker found on the site above. If you can, it’d be great to support their charities.

I’m also happy to see that there are three Swiss teams (from 35 in total), quite amazing from a landlocked country.  

But what about the +1?

Ralph Tuijn, an adventurer and one of only four rowers who has been at sea on a rowing boat for more than 700 days (most of which solo), is currently crossing the Atlantic to raise money for his’s daughter’s school project to build a school in The Gambia.

If you want to follow him (and he is worth following), you can do so here.

One final thing – on Christmas Day, raise a glass for the 104 people who will all be out there on the water far from their family and friends. And remember, if you have a few spare coins after all the present buying is over, help these rowers’ charities out.