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Royal Navy's first all-female crew set for 'phenomenal challenge' of World's Toughest Row

Watch: First all-female Navy crew HMS Oardacious Valkyries takes on World's Toughest Row

The first all-female crew from the Royal Navy have spoken of their apprehension and excitement at taking on the World's Toughest Row.

PO (SET) Aaby Aldridge, Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow, Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson and Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall will row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean in an unsupported 3,000-mile journey, battling some of the toughest maritime conditions.

The HMS Oardacious Valkyries' journey is due to begin in mid-December and is expected to take around six weeks to complete, with the team aiming to raise awareness and money for The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity.

The Valkyries have collectively represented the Surface Fleet, Fleet Air Arm and Submarine Service on numerous operations around the world.

PO (SET) Aldridge explained the origins: "HMS Oardacious was originally founded in 2019 by male submariners, so they've done the crossing for the last three years."

Lt Cdr Aindow said: "One of our mutual friends said 'Did you know that Oardacious are going to have an all-female team in 2024?' and we were basically fixed since that."

Lt Cdr Rawlinson recalled: "It's such a big thing to immediately involve yourself in, I was a little bit apprehensive, I think you'd be silly if you weren't apprehensive but it's such an incredible opportunity."

Speaking about the team's motivation, Lt Cdr Hall told BFBS Sport: "The Royal Navy & Marines charity really does mean a lot to all of us, when you've really got nothing left to give, you're very seasick, massive waves, you've got fear, complete fatigue – you need that reason to keep going."

The weather systems of the Atlantic Ocean are expected to throw up numerous obstacles and the team is preparing to deal with sleep deprivation, salt sores, huge waves and scorching sunshine, among other challenges.

Watch: Army education officers gear up for World's Toughest Row

Lt Cdr Aindow told BFBS: "We learn more from when the winds are really strong and the tides are against us, thinking dynamically and what we have to do, than we do when we go out and it's glorious weather and we're all on deck enjoying the sun.

"More than anything, that friendship that we've built and really solidified over the last year-and-a-half, is what's going to get us through those hard times, definitely, and at the end of the day you want to enjoy it. You don't want to come away thinking, 'I wish I'd have done something differently'."

Another key objective for the team is supporting the HMS Oardacious outreach programme, which helps to educate young people, including women, on opportunities in STEM careers, both in defence and outside of the military.

PO (SET) Aldridge explained: "What we aim to do is promote females in a military environment, women in STEM, just encouraging that these opportunities are for everyone in the Navy and we're extremely proud to be the first Navy female team to be taking up the challenge."

They are not the only all-female military crew taking on the World's Toughest Row' – the Army's Force Atlantic will also be rowing the 3,000-mile journey.