Northrop and Johnson’s European managing director Patrick Coote will be undertaking a rowing marathon to raise awareness and funding for the education and advocacy programs of cancer charity NOMAN.
NOMAN aims to eliminate “the devastation caused by HPV, the agent of 5 per cent of cancers” through global coverage of gender-neutral HPV vaccination programmes.
Coote will be part of a four-man team setting off from Port Vell on the Spanish mainland next month. Their destination is the island of Ibiza in the Balearics. This non-stop journey is expected to take 80 hours dependent on weather conditions, although "blistering Mediterranean sunshine" is forecast.
Their 7.3-metre ocean rowing boat has been designed to self-right if they capsize and withstand the tumults of the open sea. Her safe-guarding features include a water-tight cabin, solar panels to power the onboard navigation system and a water-maker to convert seawater into drinking water.
“The pain and discomfort aboard will be in stark contrast to life on the superyachts we normally work with, but it will all be worthwhile if we can complete the challenge and raise money to help prevent future suffering by cancer patients,” Coote commented. “We’re extremely grateful to Northrop and Johnson, IGY Port Ibiza and Port Vell for their support.”
It comes after Coote completed a 12-day, 650km row around Scotland in 2022.