We’re team Foarrest Gumption, and we’re competing in the 2023 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
The Challenge
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is one of the world’s premier endurance races. Starting in mid-December each year over 30 teams from around the world compete to to row 3,000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to St. John’s in Antigua.
The Team
Evan Wilson
The man behind the text that started it all. A modern Renaissance man, Evan is a Coast Guard certified captain, a full-face mask certified scuba diver, part-time winemaker, and master at-home sourdough baker who is training to be an aircraft mechanic. He has rowed many kinds of boats but never in an ocean. Through a series of unlikely events, this Florida Man currently resides in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Payton Henson
Payton grew up along the Gulf Coast of FL, and spent a lot of high school in and on the Gulf of Mexico with Evan, diving and spearfishing. He fell in love with rock climbing in college and has climbed with Jesse in the Wind River Range of Wyoming and the desert towers of the Southwest. He’s currently based off out of NYC. While he hasn’t done a lot of rowing, he has flown across the Atlantic more than once.
Jesse McNeill
Aspiring SoundCloud rapper Jesse McNeill comes straight out of the DC area. For his day job, he develops solar energy projects in the American West. Jesse recently moved to Boulder, CO for climbing, mountain biking, and better hiking with his dog, Wyo. Jesse rowed crew for 4 days in high school before giving it up for wrestling. We hope he can do better this time.
Elijah Spray
Hailing from Montana, Elijah has made a career as a ski guide in Yellowstone National Park and a professional fixer of all things throughout Alaska. After walking across the United States a couple of times and trail running through thousands of miles of wilderness, he is well equipped for an endurance challenge. He has never seen the Atlantic ocean, but figures this is the best way to get acquainted.
The Cause
Throughout our planning, preparation, and crossing we are raising money to support SailFuture, an innovative child welfare agency and private school based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Sailfuture takes a unique approach to equip teens with the skills and resources necessary to navigate life. Through a variety of programs, heavily influenced by its sailing roots, Sailfuture offers teens practical skills for life on and off the water. We are excited to support and partner with this organization as we pursue this journey of our own.
Quality time outdoors and the lessons we’ve learned through outdoor experiences have been a hugely important part of all of our upbringings, and we’re passionate about supporting an institution which can offer these types of experiences to deserving teens.
Make a donation.
All in we expect we’ll need to raise ~$180,000 to complete the crossing. This includes the cost of the boat, equipment, food, training and transporting everything to the starting line in the Canary Islands. A percentage of every single dollar we raise will go towards Sail Future, helping bring incredible outdoor experiences and education to high risk youth in St. Petersburg FL. Thank you for helping turn our dream into reality!