Woman rowing solo from Europe to South America feeling ‘grateful’ for journey
Woman rowing solo from Europe to South America feeling ‘grateful’ for journey
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A 21-year-old aiming to be the youngest person and first woman to row unsupported from Europe to South America has said she feels “really grateful” every day after seeing ocean fish and dolphins. Zara Lachlan, 21, from Cambridge, set off from Lagos on the Portuguese Algarve on October 27, to row 3,600 nautical miles to French Guiana in a journey which it is estimated will take about 90 days.
Ms Lachlan, who will join the Army in September as a technical officer having completed a physics degree at Loughborough University, has covered more than half of her journey and expects to finish in early February. The rower has had to overcome a cut leg, an injured arm and a broken finger as well as a capsized boat and broken equipment as she aims to become the first woman to row from mainland Europe to mainland South America solo.
Despite her challenges, she said her voyage has made her feel “really grateful to be here”. Speaking on a phone from her boat, Ms Lachlan told the PA news agency: “My biggest highlight that I think made me feel the most emotional was on day six and it was just the first time I’ve ever seen a fish in the ocean.
“It was the moment that I realised that I’m actually doing something for the journey and not to get there. If I wanted to get to South America quickly, I would fly. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever. So now, every time I see a fish or anything, I still am completely amazed that we’re in space at the same time.”.
