When Angus Collins sets off to row solo, non-stop and unsupported around mainland Great Britain this summer, he will be attempting a feat which has never before been successfully completed.
The Hampshire-based endurance athlete aims to break a world record, and raise £250,000 for men’s suicide prevention charity, James’ Place. Angus’ Great British Odyssey is being supported by Henri-Lloyd, providing him with the protective outer, base and mid-layer clothing that will keep him warm and dry throughout the challenge, which could take up to 60 days, with around 18 hours of rowing each day, covering a distance of over 2,000 miles.
The world record rules specify that Angus cannot leave the boat or go ashore at any point during the challenge, although he is allowed to anchor in order to sleep and rest.
Angus says: “I chose Henri-Lloyd as my Official Technical Clothing Partner as their gear offers me the highest quality choice of clothing for this challenge. I need to carry as little as possible, and their capsule layered kit approach with the new lightweight, flexible, Dynamic range is ideal.
“The clothing provided offers me the ultimate protection against all types of weather, but is compact and lightweight, a key factor as my boat will be the smallest and lightest ocean rowing vessel to ever take to the seas.”
The kit Angus will use during his challenge includes with the new Dynamic long and short sleeve Tees, shorts, and Smart-Therm mid layer, with the Elite fully waterproof and breathable jacket also for extra warmth and protection whilst navigating the infamous British coastline.
Angus’ Great British Odyssey bespoke boat has been designed by Dartmouth-based naval architects, Owen Clarke and is being built by Ian Munslow of Carbonish boat builders in Millbrook, Cornwall. At just six metres long, it will be partially crafted from recycled carbon fibres - previously used in car manufacturing and sports equipment - as well as recycled drinks bottles and flax fibres, known for their strength and stiffness – vital features as Angus risks facing Europe’s biggest whirlpools, treacherous shipping lanes and violent tidal runs as he navigates the British coastline.
Angus comes from a family with a strong nautical history - his grandfather was a world champion sailor in the Flying Dutchman world championships in 1965 and his sister, Bella Collins, has also broken world records rowing both the Atlantic and mid-Pacific Oceans.
But despite Angus’ sporting prowess, the endurance rower has previously suffered from his own crippling mental health issues which culminated in a suicide attempt on his 30th birthday. His personal challenges have made him become a passionate mental health advocate, aiming to raise £250,000 for James’ Place, which offers free and life-saving treatment to men in suicidal crisis.
Angus aims to depart from Portsmouth Harbour around June 25, 2025. Simon Payne from Henri-Lloyd says: “We are delighted to be supporting Angus as the Official Technical Clothing partner for this incredible challenge and are proud that our new Dynamic range, will provide Angus with the highest level of protection.
“It will also be great to see the innovative features and fabric technology in the Dynamic range perform at their best in a sport such as rowing, as that was one of the affinity sports we looked closely at in the development stage of the Dynamic collection.”
Henri-Lloyd will be helping raise awareness of Angus’ challenge, and donations to James’ Place can be made via A Great British Odyssey’s Just Giving page.
