Almost a year to the day since he left, I wanted to shine a spotlight on the unbelievably brilliant solo row across the Atlantic by Henry Cheape, The World’s Toughest Row, read below what he got up to and how we were involved!
Credit: World’s Toughest Row
As someone who previously worked full time on promoting the Sustainable Development Goals and connecting corporates to NGOs to support mutually beneficial outcomes towards the sustainability agenda, I was particularly drawn to the plight of Scotsman Henry Cheape. At the end of 2023 and into January 2024, Henry undertook the challenge of a lifetime by rowing the Atlantic solo, completing the journey in 49 days, 12 hours, and 11 minutes from the Canary Islands to Antigua—the fastest time ever achieved by a Scot – and he was wearing almost exclusively Banana Boxers.
Henry, from St Andrews, co-runs the eponymous farm shop Balgove Larder, known for its dedication to selling locally reared, grown, stalked, caught, handmade, and prepared foods. Passionate about provenance, much of the produce they sell travels just a few miles before ending up in the shop. Henry and his family’s commitment to a sustainable future, sustainable farming, and a healthier planet led him to take on the monumental 3,093-mile challenge.
I started following Henry’s journey about a quarter of the way through after being told by one of his friends what he was doing—and that Henry was rowing in Banana Boxers! I also discovered he was rowing for several charities focused on nature-based solutions, sustainable farming, and conservation—causes close to my heart.
Since completing the epic trip, Henry and I have spoken, and he shared with me that he had only five pairs of Banana Boxers onboard. Over the course of 49 days of rowing, he wore them the whole time, forgoing shorts and pairing them with a Barbour shirt, using an improvised drybag-washing-machine to clean them. He said Banana Boxers were the most-comfortable item to wear for almost constant rowing and short stints of sleep. Due to the light cotton, they were easy to wash and dry. Despite the intense rowing, the boxers fared incredibly well, coming out in as good a condition as they left, with one pair just a tiny bit threadbare around the bottom of the leg. I think this is the ultimate road test and a thrilling endorsement for our brand. Now back at home, those boxers that crossed the Atlantic continue to be used.
Sustainability is something close to my heart, and we are working hard at Banana Boxers to make our small brand even more environmentally friendly. They are incredibly durable, as Henry has proven, they wash brilliantly and last for years, we have no waste product, we sell all we order, however further to this we are continually trying to do better and will be announcing further sustainability measures we are taking with our new stock early next year.
Congratulations, Henry—we were so pleased to be onboard your adventure.
More on the charities Henry was fundraising for in the link below, I believe the site is closed for donations but you can donate to the individual charities direct: Henry’s solo Atlantic Row – GiveWheel
