Local resident, Kirsty Melin is embarking on an amazing challenge by rowing 1000km in a team from the Turks and Caicos Islands to Miami USA.
Kirsty will be raising funds for Milford on Sea based charity, Olivia Inspires.
Kirsty owns Rowing Adventures, a company she set up in 2020 to encourage a new wave of rowers to enjoy learning, exploring and competing in this rewarding sport.
By 2024, her back was strong enough take on the challenge of rowing Loch Ness with 4 close friends. They rowed 33km in 3 hours.
Some years ago, Kirsty was presented with a Volunteer Coach award by Nigel and Paula Burt on behalf of the Olivia Inspires charity. So, she decided to approach Nigel and Paula to see if her next rowing challenge would be a way to inspire and raise more funds for them.
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| Part of the crew stocking rations |
The row starts on Monday 3rd March 2025 and this epic adventure is expected to take 14 days.
The team will be rowing though the Exumas Islands to Bahamas and onto Miami.
Before the challenge commenced, Kirsty arrived early in The Turks, where she volunteered with a local charity, Footsteps 4 Good, offering taster rowing sessions to locals.
She also met some of the crew which consisted of: 3 USA, and 4 Danes. 5 Brits were due to arrive.
The full team consists of 12 rowers, rowing in 3 hour shift pattern. When the crew are off the oars, they eat, rest and complete boat maintenance. Shifts run through the night.
To support Kirsty and Olivia Inspires, please click here.
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About Olivia Inspires
They do this by making grants of money, normally no more than £500, to provide items or services to enable them to achieve their potential in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the arts and sport.
The charity was founded by Milford on Sea resident Nigel Burt and his wife Paula, in memory of their daughter Olivia, who was sadly lost in tragic circumstances.
Olivia Inspires
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About Rowing Adventures
Kirsty Melin founded Rowing Adventures Ltd in 2020 to encourage a new wave of rowers, from the age of 8+, to enjoy learning, exploring and competing in this popular sport.
The organisation's aim is to make coastal rowing available to all ages and abilities, and to provide safe, fun access to the Solent and beyond. They deliver a progressive ‘Learn’ coaching programme using a range of stable, single sculls appropriate for relaxed skill development.
They also offer a coastal 'Explore' programme for both novice and seasoned rowers to access our incredible rich coastline.
As a result, over 550 new rowers are now afloat on rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.
Kirsty has rowed at Lymington ARC since 2011.
In 2024, she completed her Co-Skipper qualifications and rowed the Caledonian Canal. Later that year, she returned to Scotland to race in the 'Monster the Loch' a 33km row from Dores Beach to St Augustus.
In 2025, Kirsty's took on the challenge to row 1000km from the Turks and Caicos Islands to Miami in a team of 12 international rowers.
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Kirsty is an absolute superstar. She has recently supported the Ebb and Flow Row team to complete their own 3,000 mile challenge across Atlantic. It is amazing she is now rowing herself and supporting Olivia Inspires - an absolutely wonderful charity. Get behind this one, she is a wonderful person, doing wonderful things!
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