INTRODUCING:
TEAM OFFSHOARE

Who is behind the team and what motivates us to embark on the adventure of our lifetime?

Who are we?

Curious. Passionate. Ready to learn.

Crossing an ocean in a rowing boat is an incredible journey that fills us with excitement. It's the ultimate challenge that makes our hearts beat faster! Taking part in the world's toughest row allows us to dream big and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. What makes things even more exciting is the fact that we are an all-female team that pushes boundaries and inspires others to go beyond their limits.

This challenge stands in stark contrast to our everyday lives and offers us a unique opportunity to get to know ourselves in ways we never thought possible. We love thinking outside the box and stepping out of our comfort zone - qualities that will undoubtedly serve us well on our long journey on the water. Our love of the sea and passion for nature make this crossing a dream come true, and we can't wait to see what this trip has in store for us!

Why are we called OFFSHOARE?

Our participation in the toughest rowing race in the world also means that we need a team name. We opted for an English name, ‘Offshoare’, because the race is international and therefore the ‘race language’ is English. Our name is a play on words: ‘offshore’ is the English word for ‘away from the coast, in the sea’ and ‘oar’ is the English term for the scull (or colloquially an oar) in rowing. So we thought it was a nice play on words that fitted in well with our project.

Clara Düntsch

"I'm rowing across the Atlantic. Do you want to come with me?" - "Sure!" That's exactly how the conversation with Jana S. went after we met at the rowing beginners' course. Like almost every summer, I set out to learn a new sport, in this case rowing, which I've stuck with ever since. I am 25 years old, born, raised and studying in Berlin. I'm studying to be a sports and maths teacher and work part-time as a teacher at a school. I'm always up for a game of badminton, football or basketball during PE lessons and breaks. Outside of work and my studies, I like to tinker with my Simson, bake or meet up in the park to play spikeball or diabolo. I like to try out new things and am up for most mischief. In summer, you'll rarely find me without an ice cream in my hand, or without my bike. I'm looking forward to the Atlantic crossing project. I'm looking forward to learning lots of new things, to challenging myself athletically, to the sea and to being on the water. The Atlantic Challenge combines adventure, ambition, water sports and pushing yourself to your limits. How could I say no to that?

Jana Golz

I am an outdoor enthusiast and currently a self-confessed morning grouch. I love the sea and the wind, which is why I moved to beautiful city of Lübeck two years ago. Whenever I can, I can therefore be found on, in or by the water. Preferably with a good breeze in my hair, so that setting up the kite equipment is really worthwhile. And if the wind dies down, I just get into the rowing boat. I'm pretty quick to come up with ideas that sound too crazy at first. For me, however, it's a question of perspective and that's how I initially felt about the idea of rowing across the Atlantic. Once I found out that there was a race, I could think of fewer and fewer reasons not to take part myself. Just getting to the start is a huge learning curve and there are things to do that I've never done before. As a nature lover, I'm particularly looking forward to the incredible vastness and remoteness out on the Atlantic. I have a lot of respect for travelling that far in a rowing boat, but I firmly believe that it is possible.

Jana Stahl

I like my life to be colourful and lively: I'm doing a PhD in social sciences on issues of sustainable use and effective protection of marine ecosystems and have turned my love of the sea into a career. On normal days, I go running or do other sports, read, meet friends, listen to podcasts or music and take my dog Rio for a walk. The idea of rowing across the Atlantic came to me a few years ago after I stumbled across the documentary "Four Mums in a Boat". What was then a dream for the distant future is now suddenly taking shape! I'm really looking forward to learning so many new things over the next few years and growing beyond myself. During the race itself, I am particularly looking forward to leaving everyday life behind me, to feeling the ocean in all its power, to the feeling of complete freedom when we jump into the water in the middle of the Atlantic, to the encounters with sea creatures, starry nights, the sunrises and sunsets, and the sublime feeling of happiness on arrival and afterwards. For me, rowing across the Atlantic is the ultimate adventure, proof to myself that I can do anything if I really want to, and that limits exist mainly in the mind.

Christiane Kienl

My first strokes in rowing were in Great Britain, the home of rowing. There, I competed in several races in the eight, where I met a rower who had crossed the Atlantic. As a common competitive rower, the idea of being out in the middle of nowhere, battling wind and waves in a tiny boat, seemed completely crazy. But years later, after countless rowing kilometers in similar conditions, I remembered that encounter. Suddenly, it no longer seemed so crazy. The idea of testing my own limits—both mentally and physically—sparked my fascination with this adventure. Overcoming this challenge would give me a profound sense of fulfillment and pride. Another reason for taking on this race is my passion for discovering new things, especially in nature. Having mostly explored the mountains of Austria, I am now looking forward to the vastness of the ocean, the starry sky, and perhaps encountering some marine life. The preparation and the race itself will be a unique challenge. However, I am confident that together with my team, we will make it to the harbor of Antigua.