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.

The post From the Summit to the Sea, From the Sea to the Summit — Our Journey, Our Message appeared first on Team Ocean.

As the Dutch Ocean Rowing Team finished its bold journey across the vast Pacific Ocean — rowing unsupported from Monterey, California to Kauai, Hawaii — we reflect with immense gratitude on the unprecedented trust and belief that our title sponsor, GROHE, has placed in us. Without GROHE’s steadfast support, this mission to raise global awareness for drink water sustainability would simply not have been possible.

At the heart of our expedition lies a shared vision: the critical importance of preserving the world’s most precious resource — water. GROHE’s leadership in developing technologies that reduce water waste and promote sustainability is well known, but what truly unites us is our conviction that lasting change must go beyond innovation; it requires a shift in human behaviour. This understanding has forged a deep connection between our team and GROHE, built on mutual respect for the urgency of water conservation and the responsibility we all share in safeguarding this resource for future generations.

GROHE’s commitment has gone far beyond sponsorship. As we crossed thousands of nautical miles of open ocean, they launched an inspiring company-wide challenge that spanned all their European subsidiaries: encouraging employees to row, run, walk, swim, or bike as many kilometers as possible during our crossing. This incredible effort not only mirrors the physical commitment of our rowers but is also a testament to GROHE’s dedication to making water awareness a personal mission for their entire organization.

Through this challenge, GROHE raised an additional €10,000 for the #aquawareness program, an initiative that resonates deeply with our team. These funds will help develop vital educational programs for young children and communities — because we all know that real, lasting change begins with the next generation. By educating young minds about the value of water and the impact of overconsumption and irresponsible waste, we empower them to make better choices and protect this finite resource.

Together, GROHE and ‘GROHE Team Ocean’ are demonstrating that water preservation is not just about what we innovate, but how we live. This shared journey is about action, education, and inspiring others to rethink their relationship with water — a mission we are proud to champion side by side.

To GROHE: Thank you for your vision, your trust, your belief in us, and your passionate commitment to making a difference. Your support propels not just our oars, but our cause.

The post Without you we could not have done this. Thank you GROHE! appeared first on Team Ocean.

A week ago, we made landfall on the shores of

Our team, GROHE Team Ocean, set out on this expedition not simply to cross an ocean, but to raise awareness for something we believe in deeply: the preciousness of clean drinking water and the urgent need for water sustainability.

Now that we’ve completed the row, we want to reflect on what this journey taught us — and why it matters for all of us.

An Ocean of Water, But Only 6 Liters a Day

Throughout our crossing, surrounded by nothing but endless water, we lived under a strict rule: no more than 6 liters of water per person per day, all of it made using our watermaker from seawater.

We did this deliberately — to experience for ourselves, in a direct and tangible way, the reality of living with limited water resources. Every liter mattered. We rationed it carefully for drinking, cooking, and minimal washing.

It was a stark contrast to life on land, where clean water flows from taps, toilets, and showers without a second thought. Out there, with every drop hard-earned, we couldn’t help but think about how much we all waste, simply because water feels so abundant at home.

Why We Rowed: Inspiring the Next Generation

We took on this extreme challenge to highlight a global one: ensuring sustainable access to clean water for future generations. And we believe that future begins with education for children.

Older generations — ours included — have grown up with water on demand. Changing deeply ingrained habits around water use is difficult. That’s why we’re now focused on creating an educational program for young children, teaching them from an early age:

• The importance of not wasting water

• The impact of pollution on freshwater sources

• Why protecting clean drinking water is a responsibility we all share

We rowed across an ocean, but that challenge pales in comparison to the collective challenge we face as a society to protect and sustain freshwater for the future.

The Parallels: Extreme Rowing and Water Stewardship

Looking back, our row demanded:

• Careful planning: just as communities must plan for sustainable water use.

• Discipline: as we must exercise discipline in daily water habits.

• Teamwork: because water sustainability requires all of us — individuals, communities, governments — to work together.

Our time at sea made one thing clear: every drop counts. And just as we depended on our watermaker and careful rationing to survive this journey, we all depend on responsible management of freshwater resources to sustain life on this planet.

What’s Next: Our Mission Continues

Our crossing may be over, but our mission isn’t. We’re asking you — everyone who followed our journey — to help us take the next step:

Support the creation of our educational program about water sustainability for schools around the world.

Every donation we receive will go directly toward developing and distributing engaging, accessible materials that will help the next generation understand why water matters and how they can help protect it.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey.

Your encouragement and support carried us across the Pacific — and now, we hope you’ll join us in carrying this message forward.

Let’s row together toward a future where water is respected, valued, and protected.

— GROHE Team Ocean

Wilco van Rooijen, Bela Evers, Ruurd Dasselaar, Joost Schutte, Bartel Scheers

The post We Did It: GROHE Team Ocean Completes Our Pacific Row for Water Sustainability appeared first on Team Ocean.

When Team Ocean completed our epic Pacific crossing — a journey of nearly 2,400 nautical miles from Monterey, California — we could not have dreamed of a more beautiful or welcoming landfall than Kauai, Hawaii.

Known as the “Garden Isle”, Kauai is legendary for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and deep connection to the ocean — a place where land and sea meet with a rare harmony and respect. It felt profoundly symbolic for our team to arrive here, completing our journey “From the Summit to the Sea” and being embraced by a community that understands and honors the sea like few others.

Our arrival at Nawiliwili Harbor was far more than just a logistical endpoint — it was a homecoming. The harbor, steeped in maritime history and nestled amid the island’s lush beauty, became the perfect place to end our ocean journey and reflect on all we had experienced.

But what made our time on Kauai truly special was the extraordinary hospitality we received from the people here, and in particular from the Kauai Sailing Association (KSA).

From the moment we arrived, KSA’s patrons Carl Anderson and his daughter Astrid opened their arms to us, offering not only their kind welcome but also their unwavering support. Their generosity — allowing us to use their excellent facilities as our temporary base camp to coordinate the arrival of our rowers — made all the difference as we transitioned from the rigors of open-ocean life to life on land.

Their help went far beyond logistics. Carl, Astrid, and the entire KSA community welcomed us with true aloha spirit: offering their time, expertise, warmth, and friendship. Their support allowed us to focus on celebrating our mission’s completion, reflecting on the journey, and sharing our message about water sustainability with this remarkable island community.

As sailors and watermen themselves, Carl, Astrid, and the Kauai Sailing Association deeply understand the importance of respecting and preserving the oceans we depend on. We felt an immediate kinship with them, a shared appreciation of the power, beauty, and fragility of the sea.

For Team Ocean, Kauai is not just where we made landfall — it is where we felt truly at home. The island’s natural beauty, the spirit of Nawiliwili Harbor, and the kindness of the Kauai Sailing Association and its patrons will remain in our hearts long after our oars have rested.

To Carl, Astrid, the Kauai Sailing Association, and the people of Kauai:

Mahalo nui loa — thank you from the bottom of our hearts for welcoming us, supporting us, and honoring us with your extraordinary hospitality.

We are proud to have landed here, and even prouder to now call Kauai part of GROHE Team Ocean’s story.

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In a tiny 8-meter rowing boat somewhere deep in the Pacific Ocean, three adventurers are battling waves as tall as houses, fierce winds, and relentless fatigue. Among them, one stands out—not because she’s the loudest or the largest, but because she’s the strongest. Bela Evers, the only woman aboard Ambrosia, is in the midst of an epic, non-stop, unsupported crossing from Monterey, California to Kauai, Hawaii—a 2,800-mile journey across one of the wildest bodies of water on Earth.

And she’s doing it with the grit, poise, and power of a warrior.

Her ground manager affectionately calls her “GG”—short for Gal Gadot, the actress best known as Wonder Woman. It’s not just a cute nickname. It fits. Because like the superhero, Bela is tough as nails, built for endurance, and seemingly unfazed by adversity. She’s small in frame—slim, even—but strong as an ox, both mentally and physically. On this boat, strength isn’t about size. It’s about willpower, and Bela’s runs deeper than the ocean she’s crossing.

From the Atlantic to the Pacific: A Woman of the Ocean

Bela is no stranger to ocean rowing. Before tackling the Pacific, she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, another brutal test of endurance and patience. It takes a certain kind of person to even want to attempt these feats—someone who doesn’t just tolerate hardship, but thrives in it. Bela has proven, time and again, that she belongs among the world’s elite ultra-endurance athletes.

But the Pacific is a different beast. This stretch—from California to Hawaii—is known for its unpredictable weather, monstrous swell, and soul-testing monotony. In the first few days of the current crossing, Bela and her teammates were hit with 40-knot winds and waves up to 35 feet—conditions that can capsize even large sailboats. For hours, all three crew members were on the oars together, fighting to keep their bow pointed into the waves. When the storm wouldn’t let up, they deployed a para-anchor and hunkered down, letting the ocean toss them through the night.

For many, that would be the breaking point. But not for Bela.

She pushes through pain and fatigue with quiet determination. She laughs, sings, rows, repairs, and rows again. She’s the kind of person who finds peace in chaos, purpose in discomfort, and joy in pushing limits most wouldn’t dare approach. In her own words, she loves being out there—in the wild, open blue, where every stroke is a victory over self-doubt and every sunrise a reward earned through grit.

Stronger Than the Storm

One of the paradoxes of ocean rowing is that the physical hardships—salt sores, sleep deprivation, cramped cabins, sore muscles—often pale in comparison to the mental battle. The Pacific doesn’t give you the dramatic milestones of mountain climbing; there are no summits to see, no ridgelines to conquer. Just ocean, all around, for weeks. It’s the kind of environment that wears down even the hardiest souls.

But for Bela, the vastness is part of the draw. The horizonless expanse, the rhythmic pull of the oars, the dance with the elements—it’s where she finds clarity and freedom. The unpredictable swells might seem like chaos, but to her, they’re challenge and beauty wrapped into one.

What makes her remarkable isn’t just strength—it’s resilience. It’s the way she keeps rowing through exhaustion, stays calm when gear fails, and smiles through salt-crusted skin and aching limbs. She shares space in a small, sweaty cabin with two teammates for over 40 days, rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off. There’s no escape from discomfort, and yet, she rises every time. Just like Wonder Woman.

A Beacon of Inspiration

In a sport still dominated by men, Bela is showing what’s possible. She isn’t just holding her own—she’s leading, lifting spirits, and inspiring others with every mile crossed. Her presence on Ambrosia isn’t symbolic. It’s vital. She brings strength, spirit, and a kind of fire that doesn’t fade, even when the storms come.

And this row is about more than personal achievement. Bela and her team are rowing for #Aquawareness, raising awareness about the value of clean drinking water. Ironically, surrounded by endless saltwater, they must create their own freshwater using a small desalination unit—and they restrict themselves to just 6 liters per person per day, highlighting how precious water truly is.

In a world obsessed with speed and comfort, Bela Evers is a breath of wild, salty air. She reminds us that real power isn’t loud. It’s steady. It’s brave. It keeps going when everything says stop.

So here’s to Bela Evers: ocean rower, Atlantic veteran, Pacific warrior, and Wonder Woman in every sense of the word. With every pull of the oar, she’s not just crossing a sea—she’s redefining what strength looks like.

The post Bela Evers: The Wonder Woman Rowing Across the Pacific appeared first on Team Ocean.

Wilco van Rooijen has stood atop the highest points on Earth and trudged to its frozen ends – and now he’s testing himself against the vast Pacific Ocean. This Dutch adventurer is one of the world’s elite explorers, having summited Mount Everest and even the notorious K2 without supplemental oxygen .

He’s skied to the North Pole and South Pole on foot, becoming one of only about a dozen people ever to complete the full Explorers Grand Slam (the Seven Summits plus both poles) . After conquering thin air and polar ice, Wilco is now trading mountains for ocean waves, leading a daring rowing expedition across 2,800 miles of open Pacific waters.

Peak Achievements: Climbing the World’s Highest Mountains

By the time Wilco turned to ocean rowing, his mountaineering resume was already legendary. He reached the summit of Everest (8,848 m) in 2004 and later the summit of K2 (8,611 m) – the world’s second-highest and arguably most dangerous mountain – during the infamous 2008 K2 expedition, all without using supplemental oxygen . These feats put him in rare company.

He also completed the Seven Summits (scaling the highest peak on each continent) and trekked to the Geographic North Pole and South Pole under his own power, becoming the only Dutch person to ever accomplish this “Explorers Grand Slam” . In these high-altitude and polar adventures, Wilco honed an incredible tolerance for hardship: braving thin air, sub-zero temperatures, and unpredictable avalanches and storms. Each mountain taught him resilience and respect for nature’s extremes.

Yet, even for someone who has survived nights alone in the 8,000-meter “death zone,” the ocean presents a whole new kind of challenge. On a mountain, progress is vertical – you camp, acclimatize, and push toward a summit that you can eventually see and touch. There’s solid (if steep and icy) ground under your feet. In contrast, the ocean offers no firm ground or fixed goal in sight – only a tiny boat bobbing on a seemingly infinite expanse of waves. As Wilco himself has mused, “You can ski the Earth’s poles, climb the highest mountains or row the deepest oceans. All you need is endurance, willpower, and a good dose of craziness… Oh, and let’s not forget access to fresh water. Without [fresh] water, expeditions fail… life ends.” This perspective, earned through adventures on every extreme of the planet, is exactly what drives Wilco’s latest endeavor.

Trading Crampons for Oars: Rowing the Pacific Ocean

In May 2025, Wilco van Rooijen set off on his next audacious expedition – rowing across the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, California to Kauai, Hawaii. He and his two crewmates (Bela Evers and Ruurd Dasselaar) are tackling a non-stop, unsupported voyage of roughly 4,500 km (2,800 miles) across open water . They take turns rowing in shifts of about 2 hours on, 2 hours off, around the clock – a grueling schedule that means someone is always pulling at the oars, day and night. There are no rest days, no supply drops, and no shortcut home; a support boat isn’t trailing them, so they must be entirely self-sufficient for the over 40 days it will take to reach Hawaii.

Their 8-meter rowing boat, “Ambrosia,” is a far cry from the high camps of Everest, yet it must function as home, transportation, and lifeboat all in one. Everything the trio needs is packed on board, and every problem that arises – from equipment breakage to salt sores – must be solved in the middle of the ocean. Wilco’s team launched after waiting nearly two weeks for a safe weather window, knowing that once they left the California coast, they would immediately face the Pacific’s brute force . In fact, within hours of departure the ocean “welcomed” them with strong winds and towering waves. “A few hours after our departure, the ocean decided to welcome us with very heavy conditions – wind up to 30 knots and waves up to 8 m from the NW,” the team reported of their first days at sea . For about three days, gale-force gusts and 25+ foot waves pounded their vessel. All three rowers often had to struggle at the oars together just to keep the boat oriented, getting little sleep as the boat heaved and crashed through whitecaps . At one point they deployed a para-anchor (a sort of underwater parachute) to stabilize the boat and rode out over 10 hours of storm, snatching a bit of much-needed rest . It was a baptism by water unlike anything a mountaineer would experience on a peak – the ocean doesn’t “ease you in” gently. But surviving that opening gauntlet gave Wilco and his crew confidence in their vessel and in each other. “The bumpy ride of the first days has only strengthened our confidence in the boat and in each other,” they wrote as conditions finally calmed.

Equally important, this row is not just an adventure for adventure’s sake – it’s a mission dubbed “Row for #Aquawareness.” During the crossing, the crew is actively highlighting the value of something most people take for granted: clean drinking water. Surrounded by endless saltwater, they rely on a small desalination device (watermaker) to produce all the fresh water they need. In fact, to drive the point home, the three rowers intentionally limit themselves to just 6 liters of water per person per day . That 6 L has to cover everything – drinking, rehydrating freeze-dried meals, even a bit of hygiene – so conservation is key. The idea is to show that even during intense physical exertion in harsh conditions, humans can live on a modest amount of water. It’s a powerful contrast: on Everest expeditions, climbers might melt snow for water, limited chiefly by how much stove fuel they carry. In the middle of the Pacific, Wilco’s team literally makes water from seawater, underscoring how precious each liter is. “Every drop counts because we have no alternative to this precious resource,” their campaign reminds followers . After all, if a man can row an ocean on 6 liters a day, surely we land-dwellers can be more mindful of our own water use.

As of now, Wilco’s Pacific odyssey is in its final stretch. After more than a month at sea, the crew has rowed over 4,000 kilometers and is just about a week away from reaching Kauai, Hawaii. They’ve already endured and overcome so much. They’ve seen playful dolphins and even a curious whale that boosted their spirits in a low moment – experiences few ever have outside of documentaries. They celebrated a crew member’s birthday in mid-ocean with a “promised” tuna sashimi (if the fishing line caught anything) , adding a bit of humor to break up the long monotony of rowing. They’ve also dealt with painful blisters, salt rashes, and muscle soreness from the perpetual motion of rowing . But spirits remain high on board Ambrosia. Each day, they log their position and progress, knowing the Hawaiian finish line grows nearer. And once they do arrive, Wilco being Wilco, he isn’t planning to simply rest on the beach – he aims to cap off the journey by climbing one of Hawaii’s highest volcanoes (Mauna Kea, ~4,205 m) to symbolically connect sea level to summit in one grand adventure . It’s the ultimate “from ocean to mountaintop” finale that perfectly suits his life story.

The post From Summits to Sea: Wilco van Rooijen’s Epic Journey appeared first on Team Ocean.

If every epic adventure needs its characters, then Ambrosia—the 8-meter rowing boat currently cutting across the vast Pacific—has a trio as compelling as any novel. At the oars, you’ll find strength and steel in Bela Evers, leadership and legacy in Wilco van Rooijen, and… something altogether different in Ruurd Dasselaar: the romantic, the storyteller, the reluctant water alchemist, and the artist disguised as a rower.

Ruurd might be the oldest on board, but he carries the lightest heart, even as he bears one of the most vital responsibilities: keeping his crew alive. Aboard Ambrosia, Ruurd has earned the nickname “the Watermaker”—not because he is the machine, but because he operates it. In the middle of the Pacific, where water is everywhere and not a drop is drinkable, Ruurd is the reason the crew gets their ration of 6 liters of fresh water per day per person. It’s a small miracle repeated daily. His crewmates row knowing that thanks to him, they can drink, eat, and recover.

But Ruurd is far more than the water guy. He’s the soul of the boat—the one who brings warmth and color to the daily grind of oars, waves, and repetition.

A Dentist, an Artist, and a Rower

In real life, Ruurd Dasselaar is many things. He’s a dentist, a profession that demands precision, patience, and an eye for detail. He’s also an artist, with a passion for patterns, shapes, and color palettes. That dual identity—science and soul, logic and imagination—runs through everything he does, even 1,500 miles from shore.

As an artist, Ruurd sees the Pacific differently. Where others might just see endless blue, he sees variation. Shifts in hue, texture, rhythm. He speaks about the sea the way a painter might speak of canvas. He’s not just rowing through the ocean—he’s studying it, marveling at how sunlight filters through foam, how the clouds echo the water below, how dolphins dart like brushstrokes through the swells. For him, this expedition is part endurance, part performance art.

That perspective is more than poetic—it’s sustaining. When the sea gets rough (and it has—35-foot waves, 40-knot winds, and boat-punishing storms in the first week alone), Ruurd responds not just with muscle, but with meaning. He frames the chaos with humor. He sees stories in the struggle. He reminds his crewmates that there’s something beautiful in the madness.

And yes, sometimes his artistic soul makes him a bit… chaotic. Ruurd is the one misplacing gloves, cracking jokes at midnight, or stopping mid-row to describe the light on the water. He might miss the beat on a team rhythm or turn a repair session into a philosophical debate. But ask Wilco and Bela, and they’ll tell you: they wouldn’t want anyone else in the cabin.

Romance and Rowing

Ruurd’s romance isn’t limited to art. It’s a worldview. He approaches this Pacific crossing not just as a challenge, but as a love letter to life’s wild possibilities. Where others might race to the finish, he’s savoring the long middle. The moments of shared silence. The flying fish at dawn. The delirious laughter that comes after three days of stormy seas and little sleep.

He doesn’t care much for strict discipline—he’d rather muse, explore, get a little lost in the swirl of it all. But don’t mistake that for weakness. Ruurd is stubborn. Deeply, wonderfully, unshakably stubborn. He’s here, rowing every shift, through pain and salt and sleep-deprivation, keeping pace with Bela’s power and Wilco’s intensity. He won’t let the team down. His friends may joke that they drag him up the learning curve, but they’ll also say that when it counts, Ruurd shows up—reliable, thoughtful, determined to pull his weight and then some.

And let’s not forget: he’s essential. No water, no journey. And nobody coaxes more from that watermaker than Ruurd. In the heat, in the damp, through electrical blips and vibration rattles, he makes sure the team has those six daily liters of life. In a way, he’s the one literally turning saltwater into survival—alchemy on a boat, 2,000 miles from anywhere.

The Man Behind the Oars

What makes Ruurd’s presence aboard Ambrosia so compelling is that he brings something rare to an expedition built on grit and goals: vulnerability and reflection. While others hammer down discomfort, Ruurd talks about it. While some push through without question, he wonders aloud. He opens space for humanity in a place that strips you to the core.

He may not have the resume of mountaineering firsts or athletic superlatives, but he brings perspective, and that’s just as vital. He reminds us that not every explorer needs to be bulletproof. Some need to be curious. Some need to tell stories.

And when they land in Kauai, and others think about showers and sleep, you can bet Ruurd will be watching the sunset, describing the colors, laughing at the madness of it all, and already dreaming about the next canvas—on land or sea.

A Crew Like No Other

Together, Ruurd, Bela, and Wilco are a unique team. They each bring something vital. Wilco brings experience and steel. Bela brings power and perseverance. And Ruurd? Ruurd brings heart. He reminds the crew—and all of us watching—that adventure isn’t just about muscle and milestones. It’s about the way we move through the world.

With humor. With stubbornness. With wonder.

So here’s to Ruurd Dasselaar: the artist with blisters on his hands, the dentist with sea salt in his beard, the watermaker aboard Ambrosia who turns machinery into magic. He rows not just for miles, but for meaning. And for that, we salute him.

The post Ruurd Dasselaar: The Artist, the Dentist, the Watermaker of the Pacific appeared first on Team Ocean.

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We are GROHE Team Ocean, and right now, as you read this, we’re out here on the Pacific, rowing from Monterey, California to Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i — a journey of over 2,400 nautical miles across one of the world’s most unforgiving oceans.

This is no ordinary adventure. We chose this extreme challenge not just for ourselves, but to shine a light on a crisis that affects us all: the scarcity and waste of clean drinking water.

Living With Less Water to Make a Point

Out here, surrounded by endless blue, there’s irony everywhere we look: water, water everywhere — but not a drop to drink unless we work for it. Every liter we consume is produced by our onboard watermaker, turning seawater into precious fresh water, one small batch at a time.

We’ve set ourselves a limit: 6 liters per person per day. That’s everything — drinking, cooking, cleaning. This self-imposed rationing is not just about logistics; it’s about understanding, firsthand, the real value of water.

Back home, it’s so easy to take water for granted: running taps, flushing toilets, endless showers — and so much unnecessary waste. But out here, every drop is precious because every drop requires effort, planning, and respect.

This is exactly the connection we want people to make: the challenge of crossing an ocean in a rowing boat is extreme — but so is the challenge we all face to protect and preserve our limited fresh water resources.

Our Mission: Teach the Next Generation

We believe it’s not enough just to row and talk about this issue. We want to create something lasting — an educational program for young children about water sustainability.

Why children? Because we feel strongly that older generations, including our own, have grown too used to the luxury of clean, available water. Changing habits later in life is difficult. But with children, we have the chance to foster new values — respect, care, and responsibility for water — before bad habits form.

This program will help kids understand:

• How easily water can be wasted

• How pollution threatens clean water supplies

• Why we need to protect freshwater resources globally

It’s not just about statistics or warnings — it’s about creating an emotional connection to water, the same connection we feel so powerfully out here, rowing hour after hour.

A Parallel Challenge

Rowing an ocean is brutally hard. We battle exhaustion, storms, waves, salt sores, and mental fatigue. Every day demands planning, discipline, and teamwork.

But we see that same challenge reflected on land — the global effort required to manage and conserve clean water. It requires just as much discipline, planning, teamwork — and a commitment to think long-term.

We row with this message in mind:

“You don’t have to be in the middle of the ocean to recognize that water is precious. You just have to look at how much we waste every day.”

How You Can Help

We’re asking you to support our mission — not just by following our journey across the Pacific, but by helping us raise funds for this educational program. Every donation will go toward developing lessons and materials that schools can use to inspire the next generation of water stewards.

We hope our journey inspires you to think differently about water — and to help us spread that awareness to children around the world.

Just as we need teamwork and endurance to cross this ocean, we all need to work together to protect clean water for the future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

— GROHE Team Ocean

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Peter Joosten, orthopedisch chirurg

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