OceaN
Rowing
Record-Breaking Ocean Rower. WORLD RECORD HOLDER.
Weather Router.
In 2020, I was in Antigua when I saw the ocean rowing boats finishing their race. I was burnt out from big-team sailing and wanted something smaller, something I could do on my own terms. So, I got a rowboat.
What started as a small personal project became something much bigger. In January 2024, I rowed solo across the Atlantic in 44 days, 4 hours and 47 minutes. I beat the previous female solo race record by 15 days, finished third overall, and was faster than the female pairs world record by more than 24 hours.
I never set out to break records. But once I commit to something, I give it everything.
Since then, I’ve become the first person to complete the World’s Toughest Row Atlantic and Pacific back-to-back, and the first and only woman to row solo from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands.
In 2026, Andrew Breen and I won the World’s Toughest Row Pacific, completing the 2,800-mile crossing from Monterey, California, to Hanalei Bay, Hawaii. We set a new world record as the fastest pair ever to row the Mid-Pacific, became the first team in the event’s history to lift two trophies, and I became the first woman to have her name on the overall winner’s trophy.
Ocean rowing isn’t reckless. It’s calculated, planned and requires thousands of hours of preparation. That’s what I’ve learned from every row.
You can read the full story of how I got into ocean rowing on my About page.
OCean ROWING Achievements
Ocean Rowing vs Sailing: Different Worlds
People often ask what's harder: sailing or rowing?
They're different worlds. Sailing is faster, more technical, more team-dependent. Rowing is slower, more isolated, more about mental endurance.
Both require you to dig deep, just in different ways.
What I love about ocean rowing:
It looks so simple from the outside. Just you, a boat, and some oars. But it's so complex from the inside.
You're managing sleep deprivation, weather routing, boat systems, nutrition, mental exhaustion, and the constant physical grind. There are thousands of things to think about, and you're doing all of it alone.
That's the challenge. That's what makes it worth doing.
When Carsten interviewed me in Antigua I answered “I’ve raced around the World three times and I’ve never had to dig so deep”
Ocean Rowing Isn't Reckless
(It's Just Misunderstood)
People think ocean rowing is reckless. I get it. A tiny boat, huge ocean, what could go wrong?
But ocean rowing, especially through events like the World's Toughest Row, is highly calculated, planned, and governed.
What people don't see:
Thousands of hours of preparation
Strict qualification requirements
Constant weather monitoring and routing
Safety protocols and emergency procedures
Medical checks and fitness requirements
Boat inspections and safety equipment standards
Yes, there are people who grab a boat and head off with minimal preparation. Those are the ones who usually get rescued and give ocean rowing a bad name.
But the ocean rowing community I'm part of? We do this properly. We respect the ocean. We prepare. We plan. We train. That's the difference.
Weather Routing for Ocean Rowing Teams
I provide weather routing services for ocean rowing teams competing in major races and independent record attempts
Drawing on my experience as both a professional sailor and ocean rower, I help teams navigate weather systems, optimise their routes, and make informed decisions at sea.
If you're preparing for an ocean row and need weather routing support please get in touch.
What I Share as a Speaker
I speak about my ocean rowing journey, focusing on mental resilience, preparation, adapting to setbacks, and calculated risk-taking.
Learn more about speaking engagements.
Things
You Might Not KnoW About
Ocean Rowing
My rowboat was called 'Tic Tac' because it looks like a half-eaten Tic Tac
I lived on Tic Tac while preparing for the Atlantic row, moored next to the racing yacht I was working on
I'm scared of water and darkness (but I row oceans anyway)
I have to talk myself through rowing in pitch darkness every single time
My emotional support crocodile comes on every row
No bananas on the boat. It's an old fishing tradition. I'm deadly serious about this!
I toast Neptune at key moments to keep me safe
I didn't see a single boat or aeroplane for 39 days during my Hawaii to Marshall Islands row
Questions People Always Ask
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No. Never have.
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That it's reckless. It's actually highly calculated and governed, with strict safety protocols and thousands of hours of preparation.
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Different challenges. Sailing is faster, more technical, more team-dependent. Rowing is slower, more isolated, more about mental endurance. Both require you to dig deep in different ways.
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I talk myself through it every single time. Fear doesn't stop me, it's just part of the package. Once I'm out there, I love it.
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Do it properly. Train, qualify, prepare. Don't just grab a boat and head off. Respect the ocean, respect the process, and make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.
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I capsized just 36 hours before finishing my record-breaking Atlantic row. A full 360-degree roll. But you just keep going. There's no other option.
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Rowing across an ocean. I know that sounds like a joke, but it's true. When I'm not working, I'm kitesurfing, wing foiling, stand-up paddleboarding, or fishing.
Sponsorship & Collaboration
I'm currently preparing for the Pacific row and continue to provide weather routing services for ocean rowing teams.
I'm open to sponsorship and collaboration opportunities that align with my values and projects.
Main sponsors and supporters:
Irrigation Projects Queensland
Julbo Eyewear
Mustang Survival
Conor Byrne Fitness
If you're interested in sponsoring or collaborating on future ocean rowing projects, I'd love to hear from you.
TESTIMONIALS
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![Carsten Heron Olsen, Race Director and CEO of The World’s Toughest Row.]()
Carsten Heron Olsen, Race director and CEO - The World’s Toughest Row.
"Liz Wardley is one of the most competent ocean athletes I’ve had the privilege of working with. Very few people prove themselves across both the Atlantic and Pacific, and Liz has done so at the highest level; from a record-breaking solo Atlantic crossing to an incredible Pacific campaign as part of a pair and now preparing to take on the Pacific once again. What sets her apart is her mindset: calm under pressure, highly experienced, and relentlessly determined. She consistently makes good decisions when it matters most, which is ultimately what defines success in ocean rowing. As both a competitor and a person, Liz brings professionalism, resilience, and a quiet strength that elevates any team or challenge she takes on."
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![Tracy Edwards MBE, British sailor and skipper of the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.]()
Tracy Edwards MBE - British Sailor
“Liz was Guest Skipper on Maiden twice during her World Tour 2018 to 2024, as we invited female legends to lead the crew for a few months at a time. I knew Liz by reputation obviously and so was not surprised that she was a fantastic addition to our team. Not only does Liz has phenomenal skills, experience and expertise but she is a natural leader and was an inspiration to the young women in the Maiden crew. Liz has boundless energy, endless enthusiasm for the task in hand and is not afraid to get down and dirty when needed! The feedback from the crew was that Liz had shown them what was possible for them to achieve and she played a significant role in preparing Heather Thomas to Skipper Maiden to victory in the OGR. Liz will always be an important part of Maiden’s story, and I am so glad she found the time to spend with us. We watch for her next adventure with anticipation!”
