Harwin sponsors around-Britain rowing race

Author: EIS Release Date: Apr 21, 2022

UK connector maker Harwin is to sponsor the 2022 GB Row Challenge, and helping to develop on-board seawater sampling equipment.

 

Harwin GB Row

“First held in 2005, the competition is a continuous circumnavigation of mainland Britain,” according to Harwin. “Starting at Tower Bridge on 12th June, the teams will embark on a 2,000 mile route.”

 

“Harwin is the principal sponsor for two of the three boats,” the company told Electronics Weekly. “Information relating to the financial contributions they are making has not been disclosed.”

 

Rowing is non-stop without support, and the record in 26 days 9 hours.

 

While they travel, but not as a condition of the race, said Harwin, participating teams will: measuring marine biodiversity, sample sea water for micro-plastics, monitoring noise pollution levels, record sea temperature.

 

The three boats will sample in shifts, each for to to three hours per day, during the hottest hours to reduce the potential for salt crystalising and blocking the 44μm filters, according to the company, which has 3D printing prototypes of the bespoke sampling pumps and will be making the final parts in 316 stainless steel.

 

Sampled sea water will be analysed by the University of Portsmouth.

 

“Monitoring microplastics, underwater noise pollution and eDNA on this scale have never been done before in British waters,” said Portsmouth scientist Fay Couceiro. “This race will allow us to get a baseline for our oceans. Once we have that, this annual circumnavigation will allow us to know if our seas are getting better or worse.”

 

According to Harwin, there is no complete UK costal water microplastics map.

 

“The closest map comes from Cefas,” said Couceiro, “but there are still areas where no data has been collected.”

 

Harwin makes its product range in Portsmouth Hampshire.