We are Call of the Heron: an Anglo-Belgian duo with salt in our blood and a very stubborn streak. In December 2026, we will attempt to row from Tenerife to Martinique — 2,800 miles of open ocean in a 8.3 metre boat, with no engine, no sail, and no support. Just two sets of oars, solar panels, and a lot of very dehydrated food.
Our team name comes from a grey heron that we often see during our training rows on the canal. Its sudden, unmistakable cry feels like a challenge — a call to go further, to do something bigger, to honour the wild urge to test your limits. For us, that call became an ocean crossing.
Meet the Team
Kimberley Hansford
Kimberley is a British scientist and endurance athlete based in Brussels. She holds a PhD in biotechnology, manages chronic illness with quiet precision, and has a long track record of doing ridiculous things simply because they are hard.
She’s completed a full Ironman, multiple marathons, and swims year-round in open water. Her rowing experience includes river and coastal rowing in the UK and Belgium.
During the crossing, she will be using real-time glucose monitors to track how type 1 diabetes behaves under extreme conditions — a data set rarely captured and potentially valuable to the broader scientific community.
Lieven Cornelis
Lieven is a Belgian psychologist, talent development advisor, writer, and researcher — though, his passion for rowing takes center stage.
He thrives on marathon rowing, especially the breathtaking 215 km 11stedenocht in Friesland (Northern Holland), and is equally drawn to coastal rowing.
Based near Brussels, Lieven combines grit with creativity, fueled by his love for photography and visual storytelling. He’s the kind of person who rows through the night, cracks a joke at dawn, and captures the first light of sunrise—all before breakfast.
Growing up, his motto with his brothers was: “Why make it simple if you can make it difficult?”—a philosophy that shapes his approach to challenges. In this project, Lieven documents the build-up, maintains the boat’s systems, and ensures no rower misses a meal. He’s also the one most likely to spot dolphins or flying fish along the way.
Together, we are a team that blends data and absurdity, discipline and improvisation, spreadsheets and duct tape. We believe in doing things that scare us, and in documenting them honestly.
This is not just a sporting challenge. It’s a leap into uncertainty, a test of resilience, and a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they decide to try.