Our Adventures So Far…
Upcoming Events
Come be part of the journey with Saltire Tides - join us for unforgettable adventures as we build up to our ultimate expedition!
Final Send Off - Farewell Do
Saturday November 21st 18:30 - 23:30
Location: Balgay Bowling Club, Melville Terrace, Dundee
Tickets: 15£, under 16s free
Booking required : https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/saltire-tides-final-send-off
Auction details here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/saltire-tides-silent-auction
Join us for one final send-off before our Atlantic adventure with food, drinks, music, an auction and raffle. Let’s make our last goodbye one to remember!
Past events
World Iron Awareness Week with Make It Scotch - 12th to 18th October
We were delighted to partner with Make it Scotch for ‘World Iron Awareness Week’ to highlight the importance of iron in our diets, particularly with active jobs and demanding training schedules as we prepare for our Atlantic Row this December.
Iron helps our bodies produce haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body, supporting energy levels and helping reduce tiredness caused by iron deficiency. Getting enough iron through a balanced diet is essential for maintaining overall health and supporting recovery as our bodies get ready for the challenge of a lifetime!
Bake Sale with Edinburgh University Press
On Tuesday 22 September, we were delighted to join the Edinburgh University Press for a fantastic bake sale in George Square. It was a brilliant day filled with delicious home bakes and plenty of opportunities to chat with the local community about our upcoming Atlantic crossing.
We also challenged people to jump on the rowing erg and get a taste of what it takes to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, while answering questions about our preparations and the challenge ahead.
Edinburgh University Press has partnered with us as part of our fundraising efforts this year, and it was particularly special to join them for one of their many fundraising initiatives. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support and for helping us bring our Atlantic challenge to a wider community.
Talk at the Rotary Club Edinburgh Meeting
We were delighted to join the Rotary Club of Edinburgh at McLarens on the Corner for their evening meeting on Monday 21st September, where we had the opportunity to share more about our journey so far and our preparations for the World’s Toughest Row.
We spoke about the challenges involved in preparing to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, what motivates us to take on such an extraordinary challenge, and the purpose behind our journey. It was a fantastic evening, with plenty of thoughtful questions and a great opportunity to connect with the Rotary Club of Edinburgh - an incredible group of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things together.
Sauna Fundraiser Granton
On Saturday the 19th of September we were delighted to host a Sauna fundraiser in collaboration with the wonder Soul Water Sauna team in Granton, followed by an inspiring conversation with the Scotland The Wave team at The Pitt. After an hour in the sauna, we heard stories of adventure, resilience and life on the water from the Atlantic-crossing team, before sharing our own preparations to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic this December.
It was a brilliant opportunity to come together, swap stories and answer some fantastic questions from the crowd. Attendees also had the chance to see our boat up close and learn more about the purpose behind our journey and the work of The Archie Foundation, who we are proud to be supporting. Thank you so much to the Pitt and Soul Water Sauna for your incredible generosity in having us.
Dalgety Bay BBQ
On Saturday 8th August we held a fundraiser BBQ at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, kindly supported by members of the club. This was a lovely opportunity to come together with many of our friends, family, and those at the club who have been supporting us so far. In particular, we would like to thank Bess Homer for a phenomenal effort behind the scenes and one of the best salad selections we have had in a long time!
This day was also the first unveiling of our new boat design, which we were excited to share! Thanks to PAMP for their excellent design, we feel honoured to be crossing the Atlantic with the Lady Fortuna to keep us steady.
Press Day with MKS PAMP and The Archie Foundation
We were delighted to welcome James Emmett, CEO of MKS PAMP - our title sponsor, and Rebecca Duncan from The Archie Foundation, to meet our boat at Dalgety Bay on Friday 24th July. Although the weather was too tough to take them rowing properly, they were still able to get on board and see for themselves what our home will be for the 40 days!
We had an opportunity for interviews and photographs with local journalists and media, which resulted in a great range of coverage and has generated more interest in our campaign, and had a lovely guest appearance from Archie Bear!
Talk with Elaine Hopley - world record holding solo transatlantic rower
On Saturday the 18th of July, we held a fundraiser talk at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick. We were lucky enough to be joined by the inspiring Elaine Hopley, who completed the World’s Toughest Row solo in 2017, back when it was known as the Talisker Whiskey challenge. Elaine completed the row in 59 days, securing the world record for the fastest female solo crossing of the Atlantic.
The evening kicked off with an introduction from our team, where we shared a bit about the event, our campaign, and our progress so far. We then handed over to Elaine to share her own experiences of the Atlantic, and were able to get some very handy bits of advice!
Following the talks and a Q&A session, we then headed outside to where our boat, Crean, was waiting. Everyone had a chance to look more closely at our home for the crossing and ask any further questions, with the beautiful sunset backdrop of the Firth of Forth.
A huge thanks to Elaine for joining us for the evening, and to the Marine Hotel for hosting our event!
Pilates on the Beach - Portelet Bay, Jersey
On Friday, 3rd July, we hosted our Pilates on the Beach fundraiser with the wonderful Alana Norbury, who led a fantastic and energising session against the backdrop of a sea breeze and a beautiful summer evening.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came along to support us. It was a wonderful opportunity to share how Pilates has helped us prepare both physically and mentally for the challenges ahead.
The encouragement and generosity we’ve received from our communities means so much to the Saltire Tides team as we continue our journey towards the Atlantic!
Porty Ceilidh
On Saturday the 9th of May, Bellfied Hall hosted our Porty ceilidh fundraiser and it was the perfect night of happy chaos and the kind of community spirit that is pushing our Atlantic campaign forward!!
The Gullane Ceilidh Band were on fine form, calling the dances and keeping the floor packed from start to finish. We had great fun learning new dances and could not have asked for a more wonderful band.
We are so grateful for the many local businesses who donated raffle prizes to make the event such a success - Traade, Wild Flower Porty, Otto Portobello, Twelve Triangles, Portobello Health Hub, Root Down and the Beach House cafe.
Dundee Ceilidh
What a night in Dundee! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Friday 24th April at The Liar Bar in the Student Union for our first ceilidh night in support of Saltire Tides. With the incredible Dundee Trad Soc Ceilidh Band providing the tunes - the energy and community spirit in the room was absolutely amazing. From first-timers (as young as 3..) to seasoned pros, it was so special to see everyone coming together to dance, laugh and support our Atlantic campaign. We can’t wait for our next ceilidh!
Murrayfield Rowathon - England vs Scotland Women’s Six Nations
On Saturday the 18th of April we brought our Erg to the home of Scottish Rugby for the Scotland vs England Women's 6 Nations clash. Getting to watch history unfold with a record 30,000+ crowd as Scotland's largest standalone women's sporting event was something we will never forget! Six hours of rowing, glorious sunshine and so many wonderful people stopping to share in something special. The rower was a total hit (especially with the little ones) and we loved every conversation we had about women in sport, endurance and what it takes to row an ocean. It's always a delight to share what the Archie Foundation does and why we are proudly supporting them through this challenge. A massive thank you to Scottish Rugby for supporting us and giving us the space to share our story. To everyone who stopped, jumped on the Erg, contributed to our fundraiser or simply cheered us on — thank you! Another exciting week of fundraising ahead - stay tuned
Crepes and Hot Drinks in Jersey
On Saturday 11th April Jenna kicked off our Jersey fundraisers with a Crepes and Hot Drinks event down at The Line Up in St Ouen’s. It was a brilliant way to connect with the community and share the excitement building around Saltire Tides. Despite the cold wind and battering waves (great preparation for Atlantic conditions!) people still came down to get involved which made it all the more special.
It was a great opportunity to chat with people out on their walks along the bay, as well a catch up with friends and family who have been supporting us from the very beginning. With so much happening at the moment - from fundraising events to training sessions and the imminent boat launch - it meant a lot to be able to share our latest updates in such a relaxed and welcoming setting. Moments like these really help build the sense of community behind our challenge.
A huge thank you to The Line Up for their generosity in hosting us, and for keeping everyone fuelled - we' are so grateful for the support!
Crepes and Hot Drinks in Jersey
On Saturday 11th April Jenna kicked off our Jersey fundraisers with a Crepes and Hot Drinks event down at The Line Up in St Ouen’s. It was a brilliant way to connect with the community and share the excitement building around Saltire Tides. Despite the cold wind and battering waves (great preparation for Atlantic conditions!) people still came down to get involved which made it all the more special.
It was a great opportunity to chat with people out on their walks along the bay, as well a catch up with friends and family who have been supporting us from the very beginning. With so much happening at the moment - from fundraising events to training sessions and the imminent boat launch - it meant a lot to be able to share our latest updates in such a relaxed and welcoming setting. Moments like these really help build the sense of community behind our challenge.
A huge thank you to The Line Up for their generosity in hosting us, and for keeping everyone fuelled - we' are so grateful for the support!
Fundraiser Friday in North Berwick
On Friday 10th April, Ellen was back in North Berwick for a busy day. Starting with a talk at North Berwick tennis club, she was able to share details of the row and exciting updates about the team’s campaign so far! This was well received, along with the delicious scones on the side (thank you Ali!). Hopefully everyone left feeling inspired and excited to follow our journey.
This was followed by an excellent quiz night hosted at East Lothian Yacht Club, where quizmaster Eddie had everyone’s competitive sides coming out with some rather challenging but entertaining rounds. The highlight was the double (or zero!) points finisher, some groans of dismay and cheers of victory to be heard there! Many thanks to all who attended and the generous support for our challenge, and ELYC for use of the clubhouse.
Bake Sale at Scottish Team Racing Championships
Unable to resist the glorious sunshine and breeze at Loch Ore, Ellen took the opportunity to use her team’s annual trip to the Scottish Team Racing Championships to raise some money and awareness for the Atlantic Row amongst fellow sailors. Well prepared with an excellent selection of home-baked goods (thank you to all the star bakers!!!), she set up her stall and had plenty of interest from hungry sailors over the weekend. She raised a fantastic £161.69 overall!
RYA Sea Survival and RYA First Aid
This weekend was all about learning and preparation as we tackled two of our mandatory training courses, RYA Sea Survival and RYA First Aid.
On February 7th/8th we headed to South Queensferry, where we completed our courses at the Edinburgh Marine Academy. We had a lot of fun, but it definitely made us reflect on the realities behind these skills. Hopefully we don’t ever need to put them into practice!
Burns Supper
On the 24th of January 2026, supporters of Saltire Tides gathered at the North Berwick Bowling Club for a traditional Burns Supper, bringing the local community together for an evening of celebration, reflection, and fundraising.
Guests were welcomed with a glass of prosecco before enjoying a three-course meal in true Burns Night style. The evening was marked by warm hospitality, lively entertainment, and a series of speeches that paid tribute to Scotland’s national poet while also highlighting the vital work of The Archie Foundation.
A raffle running throughout the night added to the sense of occasion, with generous prizes donated from local businesses and enthusiastic participation helping to raise important funds towards our upcoming Atlantic crossing. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and to those who contributed their musical talents and culinary skills to make it such a memorable evening.
In particular, we would like to thank Kris and The Good Table Catering Company, Liz and North Berwick Bowling Club, Ali and Eddie Clark for their incredible support both organising and hosting, and all our generous raffle sponsors (At The Coast Beauty, Bonzo Art, Cahoots, ETC, Velvet Easel, Ultimate Wellness, Two Sisters, Cove, Rock and Bird, Tasha Robertson Yoga, So&Co Accessories, Tippecanoe).
New Year’s Day Bake Sale Fundraiser
Team Saltire Tides started their 2026 in a rather chilly fashion with a hot drink/homebaking fundraiser at the annual North Berwick Loony Dook. On January 1st, Jenna and Ellen braved the icy North Berwick winds and ventured down to the West Beach, joined by a support crew of enthusiastic bakers ready to sell their wares. After some intense cake and hot drink prep earlier that morning, they set up their stall ready to raise some funds and awareness. The hot chocolates, coffees and sweet treats proved very popular, as hundreds of locals braved the bracing waters of the North Sea. Well done to all who took part!
And don’t worry - we made sure to get our own dooking in later on!
Thank you to those who helped make it possible. Steampunk, Phuel Foods, Saartje Drjiver and Tasha Robertson for providing flasks, and everyone who provided the delicious homebaking!
Christmas Row-A-Thon at Ninewells
On 19 December 2025, Saltire Tides proudly took on their first fundraising challenge with an ambitious 14-hour row-a-thon in the main concourse of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Set within one of Tayside’s busiest hospitals, the event quickly caught the attention of staff, patients, and visitors alike.
In tribute to the dedication of the Ninewells team, the row-a-thon mirrored hospital shift patterns, with Saltire Tides members rotating on the rowing machine hour by hour to keep it moving all day. Along the way, many friendly faces joined in, sharing the challenge, camaraderie, and encouragement.
The event was a resounding success, raising vital funds while building awareness for Saltire Tides’ upcoming Atlantic campaign and the incredible work of The Archie Foundation. The support shown throughout the day highlighted the power of community, teamwork, and a shared commitment to making a difference.
