97 days 9 hours and 20 minutes after leaving the shores of Portugal on the 27th October at 09:00 UTC, Zara Lachlan has made history as the first female (and youngest person) to row solo, unsupported and non stop from mainland Europe to mainland South America.
She’s only the second person in history to complete this 3600 nautical miles (4,100 miles) voyage and did so despite injuries, a broken oar, vicious weather that caused her boat to roll, encounters with Orcas and sharks – and a near collision with a larger vessel.
Zara arrived into Grand Port Maritime de la Guyane, south of Rémiré, French Guiana on Saturday 01 February where she was greeted to a hero’s welcome. On her arrival, she said: “It was just incredible to see land as I approached. French Guiana is actually quite flat so I wasn’t that far from the coast when I first spotted it.
“It felt like it was not only the end of the challenge but, the culmination of a longer mission to get me here, to prepare me for this challenge and then to take on the Atlantic – and make it!
“It was tough. At some points really tough. But it’s in those moments you find out what you’re really made of. In many ways I didn’t really have a choice – I just had to grit my teeth and row.
“At the beginning of the row, one of the hardest things for me was having to clean the hull of the boat. As I’m not a great swimmer, jumping out of the boat and diving underneath it to clean it was something I dreaded. But by the end of the row, I loved it. In fact, I looked forward to a dip in the sea and was in the water every day.
“The toughest section of the voyage by far was the section through the Canaries. It felt like all of the winds and weather were against me. I was pushing hard for 21 hours a day and going just 11 miles. It was soul crushing.
“Stepping onto land after 97 days at sea was really strange. I’ve got so used to the motion of the boat on the water that despite the solidity of the ground – I felt like I was swaying.
“I’m not sure it’s fully sunk in yet, however it goes without saying that I took on a massive challenge and won – nothing beats that feeling.”
Through her challenge Zara is hoping to inspire women and girls into sport. She added; “I know it seems like an extreme way to inspire other women to get into fitness, but I want people to realise their potential and, if I can do something that I find scary then other women can attempt a challenge of their own.”
On the verge of completing her physics degree at Loughborough University, Zara, will then be joining the Army, heading to Sandhurst in September to train as a technical officer. She will be raising money for two charities through her record-breaking trip, Team Forces and Women in Sport.
Major General Lamont Kirkland, CEO Team Forces, commented: “I am absolutely delighted to celebrate Zara Lachlan’s monumental achievement.
“At just 21 years old, she has become the first woman to row solo and unsupported from mainland Europe to mainland South America – a feat of incredible strength, resilience, and determination. Zara’s success is a testament to the power of human potential and the spirit of adventure we strive to foster at Team Forces. We are exceptionally proud to have enabled Zara’s expedition with the support of our sponsors.
“Zara’s ground-breaking journey serves as an inspiration to us all, demonstrating that with passion and commitment, anything is possible.”
However the voyage wasn’t all toil and hardship, from wildlife encounters to the spectacular night skies – Zara got to experience nature in a way few will ever know. Zara added; “Before departing I was looking forward to experiencing the journey and immersing myself in nature – and it didn’t disappoint.
“From Orca and Dolphins, to the breathtaking sunrises and crystal-clear night sky – there were moments where I just had to pinch myself. Most of the experiences were firsts for me as I’m new to ocean rowing and haven’t really spent any time on the ocean before. The first time I ever saw a fish in the ocean was on day six of my expedition. Then on day seven when I was visited by Orca. Later on, I even got hit by a flying fish. It was quite a learning curve! I’ve made memories that I will cherish and that will stay with me for life.”
She finished by saying; “None of this would have been possible without the huge amount or work and support from Team Forces. They have taken my crazy idea to take on this challenge and made it a reality. Without them I wouldn’t have even made it to the start line!”
To find out more about her adventure and donate to her chosen charities, visit Zara Lachlan – Team Forces
