Olly Hicks is a seriously tough adventurer. Not satisfied with having rowed the Atlantic at the age of 23, he is now planning to row around the world by circumnavigating Antarctica in the notoriously awful Southern Ocean. His adventure will combine physical endurance with a scientific programme. His exploits will be accessible to schools and provide charities with substantial support. We at the Transglobe Expedition Trust are delighted to be involved with this project and I personally salute Olly in this remarkable and epic challenge.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
In the arena of ocean-going feats, there are few records left to conquer. Circumnavigating the globe, solo and unsupported in a rowing boat, is one of them and it is due to be undertaken in October 2018 by Olly Hicks. It has been hailed as ‘The world’s last great first’.
In 2005 Olly completed a lifelong ambition to row across the Atlantic, becoming not only the first person to do so from the USA to the UK, but also the youngest to row any ocean solo. During this voyage Olly decided that the ultimate challenge lay in rowing around the world, unsupported. In January 2009 Olly departed Tasmania on the Virgin Global Row, again with the very generous support of Virgin. After 96 days he landed in New Zealand, writing history again to become the first to row the Tasman Sea. Frustratingly however, due to a fundamental flaw in boat design, the voyage had to be suspended. Olly has since been working with internationally acclaimed naval architects to re-design, test and prove the new boat and is now ready to complete his mission.
With his considerable ocean rowing experience Olly is in an excellent position to complete this challenge. Having already crossed the Atlantic, the Tasman and endured three hurricanes at sea, Olly knows that the expedition is well within his grasp. In 2011 Olly was seeking help with his epic Global Row project. Determined to get the boat in the water and to complete his life long ambition, he enlisted the help of Victoria who came on board as Olly’s Manager.
Olly is still working hard to secure the funding for this true world first and to make Olly’s dream become a reality. The Global Row entails Olly rowing through each of the world’s major oceans, undertaking an 18,000 mile voyage. The expedition will take approximately 18-22 months, passing through the Southern parts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans and on the periphery of the Southern Ocean.
Olly’s entire expedition is powered by man-power and solar energy. Victoria still helps Olly when time permits and is on hand to be his expedition manager when funding is secured.
Vicks was tireless and brings a new meaning to ‘hard work’ as well as being adaptable to working in difficult circumstances
Olly Hicks