We are proud to support the first all-female Scots rowing team embarking on a history-making trip across the Atlantic

This December, four determined Scots set off on ‘The Atlantic Challenge’ a 3,000 miles rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, competing alongside 35 crews from across the world in what is widely regarded as the world’s toughest rowing challenge.

Their mission is clear – to become the first all-female Scottish team of four to row any ocean, while also aiming to set a world record. The team will be taking on the challenge in the iconic boat used by world-record holders – The McLean brothers.

The team, named ‘Scotland the Wave’, consists of Andrena McShane-Kerr 42, Fiona Deakin 59, Heather McCallum 30, and Nicola Matthews 59. They will row in relentless shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours a day, for up to 55 days at sea, facing 40-foot waves, fierce storms, salt sores, seasickness, and extreme sleep deprivation.

Each teammate will burn more than 5,000 calories a day, consume up to 10 litres of water, and collectively complete more than 1.5 million strokes.

We’re supporting their journey through sponsorship, dental care packs for the race, and complimentary full dental check-ups on their return.

Protecting oral health is a key consideration for the rowers involved in this impressive endurance journey and where there will be frequent use of sports drinks, gels and energy bars there is an increased risk of tooth decay, enamel erosion and gum disease.

Our clinicians have been on hand to offer advice and guidance. drawn from the group’s specialist expertise in Sports Dentistry, delivered through SmilePlus Dental Practice & Implant Centre in Edinburgh.

Charlie Evans, Head of Clinical at Clyde Munro said:

“This is a remarkable feat of endurance by the rowing team and one we are incredibly proud to support. There’s no doubt their bodies will be under a huge amount of strain, and our involvement is to support them where we can to ensure their oral health doesn’t impact on their performance, before they go, all the way out at sea and afterwards.

For the Scotland the Wave team, it’s crucial to make sure, where possible, normal routines are kept with regards to their oral hygiene – nobody wants a dental problem wherever they might be and certainly not in the middle of the Atlantic. My top tips for the team would be to be mindful of the frequency and timing of sugary drinks and gels to allow their saliva time to neutralise the acids that these sugars may produce. They should also be brushing regularly between their rowing stints with a fluoridated toothpaste. It goes without saying that they will need to drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated.”

The rowers have all taken different paths to the Atlantic Challenge. To find out more about the team and further information on the challenge, visit: https://scotlandthewave.com/