SGS Expertise Supports Atlantic Crossing Victory

BAAR, Switzerland - March 31, 2026 - PRLog -- SGS, the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company, is delighted to highlight the victory of team 44west in the World's Toughest Row – Atlantic in a Consumer Compact article.

The partnership between SGS and 44west began in September 2025, reaching a triumphant conclusion as the Swiss four-man team became the first to cross the finish line at Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua on January 15, 2026. A 31-day row from La Gomera in waves reaching up to six meters at times, in temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to over 30, 44west achieved not only competitive success, but also raised CHF 42,832 to support the building of a new reef in the Philippines.

Aligning success with security and safety
The team's commitment to performance, teamwork and sustainability was mirrored in their partnership with SGS, who provided a broad package of testing services to ensure the reliability, strength and safety of the team's systems. Food packaging, food contents, solar photovoltaic systems, communication/navigation devices and the crucial jackstay system for securing people and equipment on deck were evaluated under rigorous conditions to ensure optimum performance throughout the crossing.

'We row for biodiversity'
Luca Fayd'herbe de Maudave, Matthias Fernandez, Lorenzo Henseler and Julian Müller wanted to create a meaningful environmental impact. In partnership with rrreefs (https://www.rrreefs.com/), an organization dedicated to restoring healthy coral ecosystems, the team's fundraising efforts have supported the construction of a dedicated 44west reef in Pajuda Bay in the Philippines, using rrreef's innovative 3D-printed reef structures to support the recovery of marine life.

Géraldine Picaud, CEO of SGS, congratulated the team and reflected on the successful partnership: 'Supporting 44west is not just about breaking records. It is about championing bold ideas, protecting the environment, inspiring performance, great teamwork and local talent. We are proud to stand behind a team whose ambition and values mirror our own.'

With a similar mindset to 44west, SGS's global network and broad range of capabilities supported a challenge that tested everything from electric and electronic systems to environmental impact evaluations – enabling direct, responsible and far-reaching action to make a meaningful difference.

Read the full article 'Testing Expertise Behind a Winning Atlantic Crossing (https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2026/03/cc-2026-q1-testing-ex...)'.

For further information, contact:

Media inquiries (https://try.sgs.com/en/cp/media-inquiries/)

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.