Testimonials
"The first time I went to AC was in the summer of 2021 after the pandemic. It was a stressful year for everyone where many of us felt confined to a house, apartment, or room on our computers all day. Going to Maine and becoming a part of AC was a great chance to put aside all of the stress that had built up over the year and release it in a space where instead of a phone and computer I had a wonderful, supportive community, beautiful nature, and a chance to use my body to row and sail. In the course of only two weeks, I went from knowing no one to feeling at home and like I was with family."––E., New York, NY
"These programs take you out of the context of your regular life, changing all the conditions and enabling time to slow and presence to crystallize around being together in an incredibly vital and beautiful world of water, wind, wood, sails, sound, sun, land, and life both above and below the ocean. Each moment and each day is an invitation to deepen relationship with ourselves, each other, our surroundings and the conversation between water, wind, land, weather, and boats. Whether it's through practicing knots, pulling an oar, chopping vegetables, tossing a line, or immersing our bodies in the freezing sea, there are countless invitations to slip sideways into presence, laughter, togetherness, or solitude. My heart has a new room in it just to hold my memories of the afternoon sun on the ferns near the Powder Hole, the bursts of phosphorescence sparkling out from a stone dropped off the stone pier at night, or the early morning mist rising over an impossibly smooth cove at dawn. Time always bends to get me back to these places because they formed in a place in my heart where there seemingly is no time. I'm grateful for these moments, this place in my heart, and all the potent experiences that fill it--like a sack of treats to reach into whenever I want to remember one delicious version of what it is to feel alive." –– M, Belfast, ME
“The simplicity of life when we are on Greens Island [where team USA trains in Penobscot Bay, Maine] there is so much peace. Life on Greens gives me happiness even when I am not even there. The memories, the stories, and the people are all things that brighten my day, every day.” –– L, Rockport, MA
"I'm so amazed that for those who are brand new in boats or have limited experience in boats can develop sailing and seamanship skills so quickly with the good leadership provided by Atlantic Challenge USA. I want to thank Atlantic Challenge USA for existing and making these programs a reality where we can learn how to handle these boats, and handle ourselves."
–– B, Belfast, ME
"Atlantic Challenge has been such an unexpected blessing in my life. Atlantic Challenge has a unique way of bringing together folks from all walks of life, and cultivating a deep sense of community and purpose in a short period of time. From morning cold plunges in Maine's salty coastal waters to evenings spent in song around a crackling fire, my time spent with Atlantic Challenge will always be looked upon fondly. I sit in eternal gratitude for the relationships and experiences gifted to me the Atlantic Challenge family, and look forward to future adventures together." -P, Ludlow, VT
"AC is all about community and has a way of bringing people to new places, challenging their growing edge, and providing a safe place for growth. The boats are so much fun and require teamwork and then we get off the water and share a warm meal, laugh or jump in the ocean and we are back in a warm community."––A., Concord, NH
"AC has given me the experience of living more deeply. It touches parts of me that nothing else touches. It offers challenges and experiences that are rare in our current culture and I think these experiences make me a better person.”––J., Belfast, ME
“My experience at Atlantic Challenge is defined by the times we held hands before each meal on Greens Island, the morning swims we took together, the feeling we each had after the rowing race, the spirit of camaraderie we felt before and after almost every event, our unique ability to remain calm and diligent, but most importantly, the lasting friendships that have come out of only a month spent together. I’ve made international connections, I’ve learned skills I’m bound to use again, and I’ve felt genuinely challenged. We bonded, we rowed our hearts out, and we learned far more than we could’ve imagined.” –– I, New York, NY
“It’s hard to pin down one favorite memory out of so many but one of mine was from AC Denmark. We were in a race where all the international contestants mix up crews and switch into new boats. I was the “main mast captain” in the Irish boat talking with some new friends and I could see the USA boat, VERITÉ, coming up next to us. All of a sudden, VERITÉ’s mast broke and I saw it fall towards the water. The crew acted quickly and got it back in. After the race, over lunch a few of our team members rushed to fix it and we went right back to sailing with our fixed -- slightly shorter -- mast a little less than 2 hours later. Team USA’s ability to fix something that went wrong through teamwork and ingenuity was really shown off that day!” –– C, Tacoma, WA
"The first time I went to AC was in the summer of 2021 after the pandemic. It was a stressful year for everyone where many of us felt confined to a house, apartment, or room on our computers all day. Going to Maine and becoming a part of AC was a great chance to put aside all of the stress that had built up over the year and release it in a space where instead of a phone and computer I had a wonderful, supportive community, beautiful nature, and a chance to use my body to row and sail. In the course of only two weeks, I went from knowing no one to feeling at home and like I was with family."––E., New York, NY
"These programs take you out of the context of your regular life, changing all the conditions and enabling time to slow and presence to crystallize around being together in an incredibly vital and beautiful world of water, wind, wood, sails, sound, sun, land, and life both above and below the ocean. Each moment and each day is an invitation to deepen relationship with ourselves, each other, our surroundings and the conversation between water, wind, land, weather, and boats. Whether it's through practicing knots, pulling an oar, chopping vegetables, tossing a line, or immersing our bodies in the freezing sea, there are countless invitations to slip sideways into presence, laughter, togetherness, or solitude. My heart has a new room in it just to hold my memories of the afternoon sun on the ferns near the Powder Hole, the bursts of phosphorescence sparkling out from a stone dropped off the stone pier at night, or the early morning mist rising over an impossibly smooth cove at dawn. Time always bends to get me back to these places because they formed in a place in my heart where there seemingly is no time. I'm grateful for these moments, this place in my heart, and all the potent experiences that fill it--like a sack of treats to reach into whenever I want to remember one delicious version of what it is to feel alive." –– M, Belfast, ME
“The simplicity of life when we are on Greens Island [where team USA trains in Penobscot Bay, Maine] there is so much peace. Life on Greens gives me happiness even when I am not even there. The memories, the stories, and the people are all things that brighten my day, every day.” –– L, Rockport, MA
"I'm so amazed that for those who are brand new in boats or have limited experience in boats can develop sailing and seamanship skills so quickly with the good leadership provided by Atlantic Challenge USA. I want to thank Atlantic Challenge USA for existing and making these programs a reality where we can learn how to handle these boats, and handle ourselves."
–– B, Belfast, ME
"Atlantic Challenge has been such an unexpected blessing in my life. Atlantic Challenge has a unique way of bringing together folks from all walks of life, and cultivating a deep sense of community and purpose in a short period of time. From morning cold plunges in Maine's salty coastal waters to evenings spent in song around a crackling fire, my time spent with Atlantic Challenge will always be looked upon fondly. I sit in eternal gratitude for the relationships and experiences gifted to me the Atlantic Challenge family, and look forward to future adventures together." -P, Ludlow, VT
"AC is all about community and has a way of bringing people to new places, challenging their growing edge, and providing a safe place for growth. The boats are so much fun and require teamwork and then we get off the water and share a warm meal, laugh or jump in the ocean and we are back in a warm community."––A., Concord, NH
"AC has given me the experience of living more deeply. It touches parts of me that nothing else touches. It offers challenges and experiences that are rare in our current culture and I think these experiences make me a better person.”––J., Belfast, ME
“My experience at Atlantic Challenge is defined by the times we held hands before each meal on Greens Island, the morning swims we took together, the feeling we each had after the rowing race, the spirit of camaraderie we felt before and after almost every event, our unique ability to remain calm and diligent, but most importantly, the lasting friendships that have come out of only a month spent together. I’ve made international connections, I’ve learned skills I’m bound to use again, and I’ve felt genuinely challenged. We bonded, we rowed our hearts out, and we learned far more than we could’ve imagined.” –– I, New York, NY
“It’s hard to pin down one favorite memory out of so many but one of mine was from AC Denmark. We were in a race where all the international contestants mix up crews and switch into new boats. I was the “main mast captain” in the Irish boat talking with some new friends and I could see the USA boat, VERITÉ, coming up next to us. All of a sudden, VERITÉ’s mast broke and I saw it fall towards the water. The crew acted quickly and got it back in. After the race, over lunch a few of our team members rushed to fix it and we went right back to sailing with our fixed -- slightly shorter -- mast a little less than 2 hours later. Team USA’s ability to fix something that went wrong through teamwork and ingenuity was really shown off that day!” –– C, Tacoma, WA