At GROHE Team Ocean, we set out on an expedition that was about more than rowing rivers and oceans — it was about telling a story, honoring the cycle of water, and raising awareness for the sustainability of our planet’s most precious resource: drinkable water.
Under the theme “From the Summit to the Sea. From the Sea to the Summit,” we designed this mission to reflect the interconnected journey that water itself takes, and to symbolize the responsibility we all share in protecting it.
Leg One: From the Alps to the North Sea
Our journey began in Basel, Switzerland, at the base of the Alps, the “water towers” of Europe and home to the springs that give birth to the River Rhine — Europe’s most important freshwater artery.
From there, we rowed the Rhine’s entire course, through several countries and countless communities that depend on its flow, until we reached Rotterdam, where the river meets the North Sea. Along the way, we were constantly reminded that what happens upstream — how we treat and protect these waters — affects not just local communities, but ecosystems and people far downstream.
This first leg was a tribute to the rivers that nourish continents and an appeal for greater awareness and responsibility in managing freshwater resources.
Leg Two: Across the Pacific Ocean
After reaching the sea in Rotterdam, our mission took us across the Atlantic and then across the world’s largest ocean.
On May 30th, we departed from Monterey, California, bound for Kauai, Hawaii — rowing over 2,133 nautical miles across the Pacific. For 39 days we lived on the ocean, facing 30-foot waves, relentless winds, and the immensity of open water.
This leg embodied both the challenge and beauty of the ocean environment — an environment that connects every coastline and every country, but that is increasingly threatened by overconsumption, pollution, and neglect.
Throughout this journey, we rowed not just for ourselves but to raise awareness globally about the importance of water preservation and to raise funds for educational programs that will empower young children and communities to become stewards of this finite resource.
Closing the Circle: The Summit of Mauna Kea
When we landed in Hawaii, our journey did not end at the shore.
To fulfill the symbolism of our expedition, we made a final pilgrimage: climbing to the summit of Mauna Kea, the highest mountain on Earth when measured from its base on the ocean floor.
At the top, we carried out a meaningful gesture that represented everything this expedition was about: we poured out a small flask of fresh water we had produced from the ocean during our crossing, symbolically returning it to the mountain so it could begin its journey back to the sea.
This moment closed the circle:
- From the summit to the sea — following the flow of the Rhine,
- From the sea to the summit — rowing the Pacific and ascending Mauna Kea.
Our Message
This expedition was about far more than rowing and endurance. It was about recognizing that water connects us all. It crosses borders, sustains life, and shapes our planet — but it is also increasingly at risk.
Our message is simple but urgent:
The cycle of water is the cycle of life. It must be protected not just with technology, but with education, awareness, and meaningful behavioural change.
By raising funds to help educate the next generation, we hope to spark that change, empowering young people and communities to care for this most precious of resources.
This journey may have ended at the summit of Mauna Kea, but our mission continues:
Protect water. Preserve the cycle. Educate for the future.
From all of us at GROHE Team Ocean: thank you for following us on this journey — a journey that belongs to all of us.