Despite vicious head winds and encounters with potentially dangerous Orca, who have been known to sink small boats, 21-year-old university student Zara Lachlan is passing the Canary Islands having completed the first 1000 miles (869nm) of her record breaking solo Atlantic row.
Having departed from Lagos on the Portuguese Algarve on 27th October at 09:26 UTC – Zara has now been alone on the boat for a month rowing up to 20 hours a day to make headway through challenging headwinds that have slowed her progress.
From the boat, Zara said: “I’ve had a really tough past few days. Very long hours of rowing in slow conditions which has meant not getting very far. This is the toughest part of the row. I knew this would be the toughest part but then hopefully the weather will come with me.
“I’m around the Canaries now and can see land. Once past the Canaries the weather is much more predictable across the Atlantic – which will be nice.”
Despite battling changing weather and headwinds, Zara has also been joined by a raft of marine life, some welcome including dolphins, a penguin and an octopus that attached to her para anchor; and some less welcome, particularly an encounter with an Orca.
Zara remains as determined and as focussed as ever on the task ahead as she continues onto the next phase of her epic adventure.
Zara’s mum, Claire Lachlan, who cried when Zara first talked about the challenge, said; “We are so incredibly proud of Zara – it has been a monumental effort to get her to the Canaries through some really tough conditions.”
At the end of her challenge, Zara will be the first woman and youngest person ever to complete any mainland trans-Atlantic crossing and will become a world record holder. Through this challenge Zara is hoping to inspire women and girls into sport and she is also planning to host a talk from the ocean for schools across the UK. 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, said: “What an inspiration Zara is. She’s not had it easy during this first and most difficult stage of the row, yet she’s shown true courage and tenacity about the task in hand. We are so proud to be supporting her on this incredible challenge.”
To follow Zara’s adventure, visit Zara Lachlan – Team Forces
You can also follow her journey via her Instagram channel here
