R&M Bearings donate ceramic bearings to the Coxless Crew

In January of this year, R&M Bearings were approached by the Coxless Crew with a problem. The Coxless crew are a  team of 4 women attempting a world first by rowing 8,446 miles unsupported across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, USA, to Cairns, Australia, starting in April 2015.

The women are aiming to not only raise over a quarter of a million pounds for Walking with the Wounded and Breast Cancer Care, but also to set 3 World Records!

1. First all female team to row the Pacific Ocean
2. First team of 4 to row the Pacific Ocean
3. Fastest Pacific Ocean row

The ladies will take it in turns to row 2 hours on, 2 hours off on their 6 month – 8,446 mile journey. Their sliding seats run on wheels and had to give a lot of thought into the best way to prevent breakages and problems to the wheels caused by the extensive use and constant exposure to salt water. After being advised that the implementation of full ceramic 608 bearings would be the best way of ensuring the reliability of their seat wheels, they contacted R&M Bearings,  a bearing and power transmission supplier based in Scotland and BearingNet member since 1997.

“We simply cannot afford for our seat wheels to fail us – we need them to withstand hard saltwater exposure and repetitive use and to go the full distance. We spent a lot of time researching the best quality bearings for our seat wheels and found R&M Bearings’ ceramic bearings. We are delighted that R&M Bearings have offered their support and are very fortunate to have them aboard.”

After receiving the email, Stephen Martin, Managing Director of R&M Bearings, quickly had the bearings sent to the Coxless Crew, who fitted the wheels before shipping their boat on the 19th of February.

The Coxless Crew Journey 

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean, bounded by Australia in the west and the Americas in the east. At sixty-four million square miles, it covers one-third of Earth’s total surface area.

The row across the Pacific will be an unsupported three-stage row starting in San Francisco, California and finishing in Cairns, Australia. Stops will be made in Hawaii and Samoa and the entire expedition will cover 8,446 miles and take 5 to 6 months (weather dependent)!

Stops will last for approximately seven days at a time to restock the boat, repair and replenish supplies and for the team to share their story with the local, national and international media.

This route has only ever been completed by solo and pairs teams, never has it been done by a team of four and never has it been done as a continuous three stage row.

You can donate to the cause and ‘Buy a Mile’ here.