In December 2025, an incredible duo will take on the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic, turning their unique story into a message of hope.
Sean Phelps and James Brooke, as the first-ever ex-prison officer and ex-prisoner team, will row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for Care after Combat and The Samaritans.
Their mission goes beyond completing a physical challenge – by completing the row, the duo aims to share a powerful message about transformation, second chances, and the strength of human connection.
Two Paths Converge: The Team’s Story
Sean Phelps served as a Royal Marine in both 45 and 40 Commando before becoming a Prison Officer and Physical Education Instructor at HMP Portland.
An endurance athlete at heart, he’s completed numerous challenges including a 100k row and a 350-mile 24-hour cycling event.
His passion for mental health and wellbeing drives his work supporting others, and after noticing the correlation between sport and exercise, and the wellbeing and engagement of those in custody, Sean harnessed exercise as a way to help the inmates of HMP Portland in their personal growth.
At age 27, James Brooke found himself serving time at HMP Portland.
It was there in HMP Portland’s gym that James met Sean, who noticed his rowing potential and introduced him to the rowing machine.
This sparked a transformation in James, who after his release began rowing for Hartpury University alongside studying Nutrition and Sport Science.
Today, James is a Sous Chef at Gloucester Rugby Club while running a catering business.
Their friendship, built upon the foundation of exercise, support, and second chances, has now lasted for nine years and will no doubt be instrumental in making their row across the Atlantic possible.
The Challenge Itself
The row will push Sean and James to their absolute limits. Over 45-80 days, they’ll:
- Row 3,000 miles across the open ocean, from Gran Canaria to Barbados.
- Burn 6,000 calories daily
- Complete approximately 1.5 million oar strokes
- Face waves up to 40 feet high
To prepare for the challenge ahead, the pair will not only have to train for the physical trials they will face at sea, but also learn the necessary skills they will need to make the crossing, such as first aid & survival at sea, navigation, and seamanship, and the onboard systems.
Their boat, DANIELLE, has recently arrived, marking a crucial milestone in their preparation as the team is now able to practice in the very boat they will be rowing across the Atlantic in.
The Message Behind The Row
The Changing Tides Row represents something bigger than a physical challenge: it is a testament to the possibility of change and the power of support.
Just as Sean helped and supported James in changing the trajectory of his own life and circumstances, the team wants to show the world that the same change is within reach for all of us.
Through their journey, Sean and James aim to inspire others facing adversity, showing that with the right support, any obstacle can be overcome, whether it’s a physical challenge at sea or an internal battle we are facing.
A Changing Tides Row Q&A: Hear From the Team Themselves!
Training and Preparation:
Q. What's a typical day of training really like?
Sean: At the moment, an hour a day either rowing, wattbike or weights, to build up back, shoulders, legs and core. The length will increase as we get nearer but this challenge is 80% mind, 20% physical.
James: Gym/cardio and then work, or the other way around.
Q. How do you maintain focus during long training sessions?
S: I use exercise to think, so that helps. Visualising us finishing in Barbados plus music and YouTube help.
J: Actually that’s counterproductive for me with my ADHD, so I switch off.
Q. What's been the biggest surprise in your training so far?
S: Having now spoken to numerous ocean rowers, the fact they’ve pretty much all said ‘get your mindset right – don’t concentrate solely on just rowing’ and also ‘get fat’!
J: That getting woken up by my 20 month old 3 times in the night isn’t conducive to good training!
Q. How do you train for 40-foot waves?
S: Honestly, you can’t! When that happens, we’ll use our training that we’ve completed in advance and just deal with it. That’s what we’ve signed up for.
J: Knowing that when our boat Danielle capsizes, she will always self-right (providing we’ve maintained the ballast).
Q. What skill are you most excited to learn?
S: I’m excited to see how the parachute anchor works but also hope we don’t have to use it as that means we’re in big storm.
J: Steering on an ocean rowing boat, perfectly on course, using our foot pedals and rudder.
Q. How have you been mentally preparing to spend up to 80 days at sea?
S: Having been a Royal Marines Commando, I know I have the mentality already. Quitting isn’t an option and I intend to savour every second of the row, whatever challenges it may bring.
J: Talking to world record holding rowers, hearing first hand from their experience.
Q. What's your biggest fear about the challenge?
S: Not completing it because of something outside of our control.
J: Having to get rescued and starting the epic venture all over again.
Q. What's your strategy for staying positive?
S: Humour, mindset, focus and breaking the row down into segments. Just focus on each segment as it comes.
J: To talk about absolutely every little detail, no matter how big or small, with Sean.
Q. Who's been your biggest supporter?
S: Easy, my wife! She’s doing so much organising etc. and it really wouldn’t happen without her. I think her travelling to the finish in Barbados keeps her motivated 😊
J: My family.
The Row:
Q. Why Care after Combat and The Samaritans?
S: 1 – both charities chime perfectly with our story and backgrounds. 2- both do fantastic work in prisons, as well as in the community, to help people at their lowest.
J: Samaritans because they operate in all prisons, and Care after Combat because Sean is a veteran and it’s important veterans get the support they need.
Q. What will your daily routine on the boat look like?
S: Two hours on, two hours off. During the two hours off, we eat, sleep and do ‘boat admin’. We intend to eat together regularly and take a swim regularly (when will we get a chance to swim in 5 mile deep water again?!).
J: I’m really excited to get into the ocean (deep ocean with nothing around!) and clean all of the debris and barnacles off of Danielle.
Q. How will you prepare meals at sea?
S: We’ll have snack packs already prepped and boil in the bag ration meals. If it’s too rough to heat water safely, it’s cold routine.
J: Eat out of packets for two and a half months.
Q. Where will you sleep on the boat?
S: We have pods at the bow and stern. We’ll be using the pod at the bow for sleeping and the stern pod for storage.
J: In one of the cosy pods.
Q. How will you navigate at night?
S: We have a digital navigation system and the screen is facing you as you row. It lights up at night.
J: Military-grade night vision goggles obviously! Haha
Q. What will you miss most while at sea?
S: My family, which includes my dog Kenny, and cat Dexter.
J: My family.
Q. What's the first meal you want when you finish?
S: Huge roast dinner…and a pint!
J: Roast diner with the family, all the trimmings.
Future Thoughts:
Q. What's your biggest hope for this challenge?
S: To show that people can change if given the right support, trust and opportunity. Plus, for this to unlock some exciting doors for James – he’s an incredible person and talented chef, who knows where this could lead?
J: That crossing the Atlantic ocean with an ex-prison officer is a monumental story, and people see the stoicism in us.
Q. What would success look like to you, beyond completing the row?
S: Spreading our message as far and wide as possible, and raising lots of money for our charities.
J: Be in a position to actually give the confidence to thousands of individuals to change.
Q. What do you hope others learn from your story?
S: Anything is possible, whatever your background…don’t quit!
J: I really have faith that others will understand the power that our unique story has.
Q. What's next after the Atlantic?
S: I’m getting on a bit now, but I have one more big thing planned…but that’s a secret for now as all my focus and energy is on our row.
J: A world record on the conept2 rower, and my fiancé and I would like to bring baby number 2 into the world.
Your Journey:
Q. When did you first discuss doing this together/how did you come up with this idea?
S: I had an opportunity with another crew, but for personal reasons I couldn’t do it. I immediately thought of James and how powerful our story could be. It was early 2024 that Changing Tides Row was born.
J: Sean and I always follow closely each other’s quests and charity events. I was congratulating and motivating him when he was planning to row with his previous team; I was envious but stoic and proud of him. Then out of the blue, I had just finished a long family walk across the malverns with my beautiful wife-to-be and daughter, and Sean phoned me to ask if I wanted to row with him. I had mixed feelings because of having to leave my young family for months, but also a goosebumpy excited feeling. I phoned Sean back the next day and said I’m in!
Q. What's been the most valuable lesson you've learned from each other?
S: To be yourself, and be proud of that.
J: Communication is key – communication is #1.
Q. What would you tell your younger self about where life would take you?
S: Hold tight young man, I have some amazing plans for you! Trust me and you’ll have a blast.
J: Be in the now – be present with a growth mindset. The future hasn’t happened yet so don’t think about it.
Q. What doubts have you had to overcome?
S: Not getting our boat to the start for whatever reason (e.g. we have to raise business sponsorship to cover costs). I’m very positive, but that doubt is always there.
J: In the very beginning the team was different, so trust was a factor.
Q. What's been your biggest personal breakthrough so far?
S: Watching my Changing Tides team come together and work as a team so effectively.
J: Realising, or coming to terms with the fact that, I can share my story and help all different people.
Q. What does 'From Adversity to Adventure' mean to you personally?
S: Coming from backgrounds that were challenging, overcoming lots of things along the way and being a much better person because of it.
J: The adventure is simple – it’s the unprecedented epic 3000 mile row, at the sea’s mercy. Adversity is being at my lowest and taking accountability, changing my mindset, keeping faith and having self-belief.
About Change:
Q. How do you stay committed when change feels hard?
S: Try to embrace it. Realise we all have bad days; get through them and keep going.
J: I ask the closest people around me how they feel and how they get through bad times. I make a plan focused on the next step.
Q. How has preparing for this challenge changed you already?
S: I wouldn’t say it’s changed me (yet) but it’s made me much more aware of the size of our challenge, and of any ocean crossing.
J: It has changed my mindset by realising hidden potential I had suppressed.
Q. What do you wish people understood about change?
S: That it’s absolutely possible. Sometimes people fail but if they’re trying that’s ok.
J: That with the right mindset, it can be simple.
Q. What would you tell someone who thinks they can't change?
S: I’d ask them why they think that and then say “I have this amazing mate called James – you need to meet him!”.
J: That you only get one life and you’re a rocket going somewhere – a destination you’re in total control of. Remember the rocket burners will run out of fuel or get damaged along the way, you need to find a way to refuel/replace your burners through passion, faith, love, and support. Keep going, adapt along the way, keep moving up and one day you’ll look down and see how far you’ve come.
Supporting the Mission; Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
Businesses have a unique opportunity to be part of this historic journey through various sponsorship packages.
From Platinum sponsorship offering prime branding on the boat to Bronze and In-Kind support options that offer your business recognition as a key contributor, there is a package available to suit all business objectives.
No matter which package you choose, all packages include:
- Monthly updates Prior to the mission: You will receive regular updates on the team’s progress, training, and preparation, as well as updates on how your sponsorship has been used.
- Exclusive Updates: You will receive detailed updates on the team’s highs and lows throughout the crossing.
- Networking Opportunities: Invitations to post-event celebrations and speaking engagements where you will be able to network with other sponsors and industry leaders.
For sponsorship enquiries or to learn more about supporting this historic mission, please contact the team directly at: ChangingTidesRow@gmail.com
Get Involved
Not a corporation but would like to get involved yourself? No problem!
If you’re interested in donating to Changing Tides Row’s mission, you can Visit their Gofundme page here.
For updates on the team’s training and journey, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.!
Looking To The Future
As the December 2025 departure date draws closer, Sean and James will continue following an intensive training schedule while spreading their message of hope and transformation.
We would like to express our immense gratitude to the pair for choosing Care after Combat as one of the charities they will be supporting.
We have every faith in the success of this mission, and we are truly excited to see how they will continue to inspire the people around them.
