Find or Make a Way

Take the Compass Rogues Challenge: make the improbable possible and do what they said couldn't be done.

Philosophy: no way is the best way

Compass Rogues are bonkers in boats. We are a crew of friends who take on extreme, novel, whacky, dangerous, or just downright inexplicable activities in boats(and we use that term loosely). And we do it in unexpected places and ways. From drifting down the Thames in kid's inflatables to aiming for the world's highest sail, we float, sail or cruise in ways nobody thought of before. Or they thought of it and thought it was a terrible idea. We do things in boats that probably shouldn't be done – marinated in an unholy blend of humour and masochism.

The Compass Rogues Challenge is built on a simple and frivolous premise: attempting activities that were practically impossible, impractical, or simply never thought of until now. Forget well-trodden paths and take the road less taken. Make the improbable possible through your own mix of innovation, grit, stubbornness, and pure, blind, reckless optimism.

The Challenge: Reimagining the Possible

For decades, certain adventures were off-limits due to a lack of available technology, inaccessible geography, or just because nobody was ever silly enough to attempt them. But what is it that poster in your teenage bedroom said? “Change is the only constant”? Whatever, how about this: When sad news and BS dominate the headlines, don't you think it's time to do something mad, bad or dangerous?

We kicked off the Compass Rogues Challenge by deciding to sail higher than anyone in history, after we learned that inflatable sailboats had become a thing. Now, if you're willing to lug the kit on your backs, you can sail in places never previously practical. So that's what we're doing. What about you?

Compass Rogues is dedicated to this spirit of maritime lunacy. We challenge you to find novel, extreme, or insane activities in boats– on whatever you might call a “body of water” – and remind the world that there are still new ways to make us smile. Or laugh. Or cry. Usually both.

Quote

Inveniam viam aut faciam

(I shall find a way or make one)

– Hannibal, when told he could not cross the Alps by elephant

Our Current Quest: Sailing the Roof of the World

To bring Inviator to the world, we are attempting a world-first that is as challenging as it is absurd. In September 2026 we (a team of friends from the UK) will head to the Himalayas. Our mission: to become the world's highest sailors.

The Destination: A recently discovered lake at a little over 5,000 m (16,000 ft) altitude.
The Payload: We will be carrying inflatable sailing dinghies – weighing between 25kg and 50kg – on our backs for a six-day ascent from our secret base camp.
World Record: If we reach the water and manage to sail for 10 consecutive minutes over at least 1km, we will secure a Guinness World Record for the highest anyone has ever sailed. And for a bonus, we're also aiming for the world's highest sailing race, and yacht club.

Keep Making Memories

A note from the Compass Rogues founders

We don't pretend to be elite explorers, or missionaries for some higher plight. This is not a business. We will never be influencers. We're just mates, driven to do strange and memorable things, preferably in dangerous and hard-to-explain situations. And while we reach for the roof of the world to unfurl sails where none have been before, we invite you to invent Rogues yourselves, invent challenges and share them here.

What will you do, that was previously thought impossible or unthinkable?

Follow our journey. Find your own. Make a way.