RNLI veterans, including SAS Paramedic, to attempt world record row

TWO Wick-RNLI veterans will attempt a world record by becoming the first mixed pairs team to circumnavigate around the mainland UK unsupported.

Mhairi Ross, a Scottish Ambulance Service Paramedic based at Wick Station and volunteer navigator with the Royal Lifeboat National Institution (RNLI), will be joined by Allan Lipp, a fulltime coxswain mechanic with the RNLI.

The crew members who between them have over 35 years of RNLI sea going service plan to depart from Wick on or around Monday 27 May.

The fundraising challenge could take anywhere from 60 or more days, depending on the weather and sea conditions.

They are calling the world record challenge, Stormy and Steth: The Long Row Home. The pair are planning to row in two-hour cycles whilst giving the other time to eat and rest.

Mhairi Ross said she was motivated to attempt the row after a nightmare year when she lost her mum and aunt and was also hospitalised.

She says: “2021 was a pretty tough year - I lost my Mum at 70 and three months later my Aunt at 61.

My resilience tank started running on dry and I hit rock bottom.

“Just when we thought I was getting better I was hospitalised on Hogmanay with pneumonia and sepsis, which left me barely able to walk the length of myself.”

It was while she was in hospital when she received a message from a friend asking if she wanted to join a team for an Atlantic crossing in 2024.

This was her “motivation to recover both mentally and physically”, she said, but unfortunately these plans fell through. Along with Allan, the pair then came up with the idea for Stormy and Steth.

The team have set themselves the ambitious goal of raising £30,000, which will be split between the RNLI and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Allan and Mhairi are aiming to complete this challenge without any support, therefore the moment they set off from Wick they do not plan to come ashore or receive any support. But they will still be able to communicate through their VHS radios, satellite communications and mobile phone.

Allan is coxswain mechanic at Wick RNLI, where they operate all-weather Trent class lifeboat, Roy Barker II.
While at sea the coxswain mechanic has the important role of commanding the lifeboat and is responsible for ensuring the equipment is running safely. Allan has to comply with international, national and local maritime standards, as well as RNLI policies and procedures.

In addition, he supports the Lifeboat Operations Manager with operational readiness and with the responsibility for the management and welfare of the volunteers at Wick RNLI.

They both have taken up to three months unpaid leave to complete their challenge.

You can follow along on their journey here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089480973284 If you would like to donate, you can
do so here: https://justgiving.com/team/stormyandsteth