A JERSEY-BORN passenger pilot is preparing to take on the “World’s Toughest Row 2026” to honour his teammate’s battle overcoming testicular cancer.
Scott Dingle, who is now based in London Stansted, is one of a three-man team called ‘The Coastal Commanders”, training to take on the extreme 3,000 mile Atlantic Ocean rowing race from the the Canary Islands to Antigua.
Setting off in December next year, the team will endure extreme mental and physical challenges, rowing two in every three hours non-stop for over forty days – all while racing against other international teams.
The trio’s efforts were inspired by friend and teammate, Jon Reilly, and his “resilient journey” surviving testicular cancer. They are aiming to raise £150,000 for two cancer support charities, Young Lives vs Cancer and Move Against Cancer, to raise awareness and honour their work.
Having begun training already, the team will head to Plymouth next month to begin 18 months of water-based training in their specialised vessel, “Freedom”, to prepare for the brutal conditions they will inevitably face on the open seas.
Ahead of the challenge, Mr Dingle said the extreme challenges they will face rowing across the Atlantic would be “nothing compared to what Jon and thousands of others go through when battling cancer”.
He said:“This challenge is about proving that resilience, teamwork, and determination can push us beyond our limits, and raise vital funds for those who need it most.”
The “Coastal Commanders” are also currently crowdfunding and seeking corporate sponsorship to cover essential costs to reach the race start line, with all further donations going directly to their charities.
To support the team or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit their website or contact Scott via coastalcommanders@gmail.com
