Rector recognised alumni who rowed across the Atlantic

On 6 February, the Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser, together with the university mascot Tiksu, welcomed Karl Jürgenstein, Kait Kaarel Puss, Arnold Rein Tatunts and Andres Käosaar in the university’s main building after their successful row across the Atlantic.

The young men were the first Estonians to take part in the extreme opensea challenge “The World’s Toughest Row”, which began in the Canary Islands and finished in the Caribbean. The crew set off on 14 December last year and reached the finish line on 23 January this year. In total, the journey took 39 days, 23 hours and 47 minutes.

The University of Tartu supported the alumni’s endeavour, including financially, and cheered for them throughout the challenge. As a talisman, the team carried a miniature version of the university mascot Tiksu, which completed the entire journey. The team brought the miniTiksu along to the meeting, as well. Similar Tiksu toys will soon be available in the university gift shop.

Image

Rector Toomas Asser recognised the team for undertaking the rowing marathon. “As a university, we are very proud of your achievement, which proves that even the most daring goals can be reached through joint effort,” he said. Each rower received a university cap and Tiksu stickers depicting the team.

Andres Käosaar and Kait Kaarel Puss said that 99% of the journey and its success came down to the crew’s consistent and routine hard work. “We thank the entire university for the support! It was here, during our studies, that we learned perseverance and the habit of working long and hard towards a goal,” they said. The team is not planning another major adventure in the near future; for now, they are recovering and readjusting to everyday life.

Karl Jürgenstein is a doctoral researcher in molecular and cell biology at the University of Tartu, while Kait Kaarel Puss is a junior research fellow in engineering and technology. Arnold Rein Tatunts founded the science theatre KVARK and is a content creator at the educational innovation company FutuClass OÜ. Andres Käosaar holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Tartu and is a doctoral researcher in work and organisational psychology at the University of Central Florida. Tatunts and Käosaar are former classmates, while Jürgenstein and Puss studied in the same programme at the University of Tartu.

Through their adventure, the team aims to raise awareness and funds for two charitable organisations: Peaasi and the Tartu University Hospital Children's Foundation.