Interviews

Name: Aoife Ni Mhaoileoin (pictured last on the right with the Boatylicious crew)
Degree/Masters: M.B. (2011)

Why does Team Boatylicious want to row from California to Hawaii, a distance of 2,400 miles across the Pacific Ocean?
For me, the primary motivation is the chance to do something so physically challenging that it will push past all my boundaries, physically and mentally. This route has never been rowed by a crew of four so we are the first all female four to ever attempt it and that element of the unknown is very appealing to me. We're also supporting two very worthwhile children's charities during our challenge, Hope and Homes for Children and The Ahoy Centre, and to see the work they do and to raise awareness and vital funds for them is really inspiring. Lastly we'll have earned that holiday in Hawaii once we finally get there in July!

How do you think the four of you will cope being in such close quarters during the duration of the race?
We actually didn't know each other prior to coming together as a team and the preparation and training so far has meant that we've spent long hours working together through a range of emotions from frustration to exhilaration! So I think all this effort will stand to us when the going gets tough as it inevitably will. We've also spent time talking about it between ourselves, about how we cope and react to stress and that preparation is half the battle.

What will happen if a big storm hits?
We will potentially be facing into 40 ft waves in our 24 ft boat! If a seriously big storm hits, we will have to hold off rowing and all be crammed into our cabin until it abates, a lot like four people in a cramped, stuffy washing machine. The boat is designed to be self-righting in the event of capsizing. As well as that, we have all completed Sea Survival qualifications, and the boat is kitted out with a life-raft, personal locator beacons and an EPIRB, emergency position indicating radio beacon, but it'll take a lot to get us to needing that. Our boat has crossed the Atlantic twice and won the GB Row last year, so she's well-tested.

What food will you be bringing to eat during the race?
We will need to eat between 5000-6000 calories each a day during the race and can still expect to lose up to a stone in weight! Our supplies will primarily be made up of freeze-dried army ration packs, with snack packs of protein bars and shakes, dried fruit and electrolyte powders. Our water comes from our desalinator, which squeezes sea water through a membrane to make it potable, and is one of the most vital pieces of kits on board. We'll stash a few special treats on board too, though, for significant milestones and a team-mate's birthday celebrations! We'll also have fishing gear to try and catch fresh fish en route to supplement an otherwise very processed and limited diet!

Have you ever taken part in any other challenges like this?
I haven't attempted anything this scale before! I climbed Kilimanjaro and Mount Toubkal in Morocco last year and have signed up to run the Berlin Marathon this autumn but this is a different animal. We will be rowing in two-hour-on, two-hour-off shifts, 24 hours a day for up to 40-45 days, that's nearly 1000 hours of rowing each! I'm still waiting to see whether I'll be hooked on big challenges like this after finishing or whether it'll be enough to last a lifetime.

What is the first thing you will do when you reach Hawaii?
Try not to stumble off the dock as my sea legs re-adjust? Seriously though, some of my friends and family are making the trip out to Hawaii and seeing them again will be the first priority, closely followed by a long, cold drink, a fresh water shower, a massage and sleeping in a real bed for more than two hours at a time. The faster we row, the longer the holiday so that'll be a real incentive while we're out there.

Will people be able to follow your progress online during the race?
Yes, we'll have a GPS tracker that you can follow on our website and hopefully we'll be able to update our blog and Twitter while we're rowing so there'll be plenty of ways to keep track of us and we would all really appreciate your support. We'll be pushing off on June 7, only 92 days away now!