Row Aurora

The name 'Aurora' comes from the Latin word, meaning 'Dawn', so it was an easy choice of name for a challenge and a business.

 

Dawn is a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster, Yachtmaster examiner and an accredited instructor in many maritime disciplines such as RYA navigation, vhf radio, RADAR, advanced powerboat and Yachtmaster to name just a few. She previously worked commercially on the water for 20 years as a police boat skipper so is no stranger to working in extreme maritime environments. 

 

Dawn first became involved in coastal rowing in 2014 when her home town of Burnham on Crouch set up a rowing club. Charlie Pitcher (Ocean rowing world record holder) is the president of the rowing club and founder of Rannoch Adventure. Charlie learnt about Dawn’s skills and asked her to help with an ocean rowing project in China.

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After being a part of this project Dawn began expanding her business 'AURORA SEA SCHOOL' to help more Ocean rowers achieve their goals with both on and off the water training.

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Dawn quickly realised that she could not continue to work in the Ocean Rowing Industry without taking on an ocean herself.

'ROW AURORA SOLO ATLANTIC CHALLENGE' was born in April 2018 with a start date of January 2019 in mind. 

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By the 25th of February 2019 Dawn Smith was the proud owner of the title 'Ocean Rower' and a successful solo and unsupported independent row across the Atlantic ocean. 

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During the past few years Dawn has continued to develop her portfolio, training many ocean rowers and planning for the next big adventure. 

She has rowed the Atlantic four times, rowed the Pacific once and has rowed hundreds of miles round the UK coast (See past expeditions for more information).

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The fight to protect our planet

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Dawns first Ocean Row mission was to raise awareness about ocean plastics and pollution. She raised £20,000 for the marine conservation society earning the title of fundraiser of the year. 

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This problem affects every person and living creature on the planet as the discarded plastics will eventually end up in the food chain. 

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Despite the fundraising effort now aimed at a new charity. Dawn continues to encourage people to reduce waste, try to be less of a throw away society and choose products that use less single use packaging in particular single use plastics. 

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"If everyone makes a small change, together we can make a huge difference"

Dawn Smith​

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