MEET THE TEAM
GROHE Team Ocean – a team of four adventurers,
preparing to take on the challenge to row the Pacific in 2025!
Wilco van Rooijen (left) – Wilco is a top class mountain climber who has topped several mountains over 8000m and without the use of oxygen. Besides that he is also the holder of The Explorers Grand Slam. Now he’s having a go on Sea.
Ruurd Dasselaar (mid left) – a dentist who loves a bit of a challenge. Ruurd loves sailing, ice skating and fishing. He joins the team with a lot of kilometers under his belt (being previously the teams reserve), as well as bringing in a technical know how.
Bela Evers (mid right) – Bela, is a keen all-round sporter, who loves adventure and endurance sports. She rowed across the Atlantic in December 2020 which has been an experience never to forget, igniting a passion for the sea.
Joost Schutte (right) – Joost Schutte has joined our eam as the fourth team member who takes over the place of Bram Mayer (left middle). Joost is a former Marine and loves outdoor adventure.
THE PACIFIC CHALLENGE
What we will be doing: Starting in May 2025, Team Ocean will row unaided from Western USA to the magical backdrop of Hawaii.
A total of 4,500 km rowing in shifts of 2 hours on and 2 hours off non-stop. Facing sores, blisters, massive waves, seasickness, fatigue and a confronting mental challenge. We’ll be rowing to raise awareness for water. Living on less than 8 liters of water per day for 6-8 weeks. What will you do to reduce water consumption? Read more on our mission AQUAWARENESS
OUR MISSION
As a team of dedicated outdoor adventurers, we are grateful to be so close and ‘as one’ with nature.
Climate change and behaviours are having an impact on our fresh water supply, while demand increases. By rowing the Pacific it is our mission to raise awareness and change behaviours when it comes to water consumption, ensuring we have access to fresh drinking water as a human right. We will be a living lab just surviving on less than 8 liters a day per person – showing it can be done and igniting a call to action on water awareness.
Sitting back is not an option. Let’s row this ocean together.
AQUAWARENESS
WHY AQUAWARENESS ?
- The world holds only 2% of fresh water
- A human beings consist of 60% of water
- More than 40% of the world’s population live in water-stressed areas, and water demand is expected to rise 55% over the next 30 years (source: OECD)
- Local problems are; too little water, too much water or water that is too polluted to use
- There is no alternative resource for water.
LIFE IS WATER IS LIFE. EVERY DROP COUNTS!!
PACIFIC FACTS
- The Pacific is the world's deepest ocean
- The sea on the coast of Hawaii it rising 1 inch every 4 years. Around 13 miles of beaches have already gone.
- Just 133 people have successfully rowed to one of the Hawaiian Islands from mainland USA
- The Pacific has the biggest garbage patch - 3x the size of France
- Never have a Dutch mixed team rowed this route - a Première
- The word Pacific means peaceful