Welcome back to the Henley Female Network! This month’s event is proudly sponsored by Val Wyatt.

Each Fourth Friday of the month, we  provide a supportive and welcoming environment where conversations flourish, connections are forged, and friendships are born. Take time for yourself and come along to expand your personal and professional network as you connect with like-minded women.

This month Nicki Kelly, Caroline Hague and Rachel Smillie a.k.a. Team Excelsioar will be talking about The World’s Toughest Row – endurance, resilience and the challenges & joys of Mother Nature.

Team Excelsioar decided to take on the challenge of a lifetime 3 years ago. Born in three different decades, their was aim to raise as much money as possible for their two chosen charities (Thames Hospice and The Dash Charity) whilst raising the profile of women at any age taking part in adventure and endurance sports. To kick off their Atlantic campaign, they completed a 24 hour in-door row and now hold the Guinness World Record for “Greatest distance rowed on a Concept2 Indoor Rower in 24 hours by a team (female)”

Caroline, Nicki & Rachel set off from La Gomera on the 13th December and arrived in Antigua on 11th February this year. They rowed 3 hours on 3 hours off, 24 hours a day, battling the elements, sea-sickness, dehydration and sleep deprivation to complete the challenge. Other things they had to contend with included, 30ft high waves, storms, hallucinations, salt sores, blisters (on hands, bum, you name it!), the risk of capsize, and the less than glamorous toilet facilities (a bucket on deck).

The team will share their experience of the endurance race and how Mother Nature tested them and how they successfully rowed thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Prepare to be inspired by a seriously extraordinary adventure.

Tickets: £20

** £5 from the sale of each ticket will be donated to the Chiltern Centre to support their work empowering young people with disabilities to live life to the full.**

Val Wyatt is an independent, female owned and led marina in Wargrave. Offering a broad selection of new and used boats from their five acre marina, they also provide moorings, storage and boat maintenance options.

Operating in Wargrave since 1845, Val Wyatt provides a welcoming environment to visit, whether you are thinking about buying a boat, selling one, looking for your boat’s home, or are just curious about the boating world.

Being one of a very small number of female owned marine businesses in the UK, they pride themselves on being a little bit different: there’s no hard sell, they are led by their values, one third of their team is women, and they love supporting meaningful initiatives: like Team Excelsioar’s row across the Atlantic in aid of two wonderful charities.

Within the marina is also Velolife’s coffee shop, which will re-open later in April following a post-flood refit. Their fantastic coffee and cake provides a great excuse to pop down, sit out on the decking, and watch the river life go by. To find out when it’s back open, follow Val Wyatt Marine on Facebook or Instagram.