The Challenge: Black Forest to Black Sea by oar

Start date: June 3rd 2013

We are attempting to row from the highest navigable point on the Danube (Ulm, in the Black Forest in Germany) down to the Black Sea Delta, then continuing south through the Black Sea to finish in Istanbul.

This is a distance of over 3200km, beginning in the heart of Europe and passing through (or past) ten countries on the way to finishing on the western fringes of Asia. We’ll be rowing in shifts of 1-hr each, needing to cover at least 100km per day to remain on target. As well as dodging the massive shipping that passes down the Danube and navigating through locks and hydroelectric facilities, we will then need to cope with ocean rowing conditions in the Black Sea.

Row the Danube Challenge 2013

The Route

Mainland Europe

Row the Danube 2013 Route: Ulm in Germany to Istanbul in Turkey

The (navigable) Danube and our route flows through the following countries and cities (ordered from the source to mouth):

• Germany
  • Ulm in Baden-Württemberg
  • Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria
  • Regensburg in Bavaria
• Austria
  • Linz, capital of Upper Austria
  • Tulln in Lower Austria
  • Vienna
• Slovakia
  • Bratislava
  • Komárno
  • Štúrovo
• Hungary
  • Győr
  • Budapest
  • Mohács
• Croatia
  • Vukovar
  • Ilok
• Serbia
  • Novi Sad
  • Belgrade
  • Kladovo
• Bulgaria
  • Vidin
  • Nikopol
  • Silistra
• Moldova
  • Giurgiuleşti
• Ukraine
  • Reni
  • Vylkove
• Romania
  • Moldova Nouă
  • Galaţi – largest port on Danube
  • Sulina – last city through which it flows

Black Sea

After arriving at the Danube Delta we’ll head out into the Black Sea. Separating eastern Europe from western Asia, the Black Sea has an area of 436,400 km² and is affected by a constant large swell. Here, we’ll adopt an ocean rowing strategy and aim to reach our target finish point on the Bosphorus in Istanbul after 35 days.

You can see the entire route in detail here.

The Boat: Fight & Spirit

Fight & Spirit is a 7m long ocean rowing boat built on the Isle of Man. She has been very generously donated for the challenge by Mike Whipp. Between rowing shifts, we’ll rest, cook, eat and sleep in the stern cabin.

Home for 35 days…