In a remarkable feat of determination and endurance, a young woman from the UK has spent several months rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Europe to South America, breaking three Guinness World Records in the process.
According to a report from the Guinness World Records website on July 1st, the 21-year-old woman named Zara Lachlan embarked on her journey from the coastal town of Lagos in southern Portugal on October 27, 2024. After 97 days, 10 hours, and 20 minutes of rowing, covering a distance of 4,366 miles (7,026 kilometers), she successfully reached French Guiana, completing her transatlantic voyage.
Lachlan’s incredible achievement has set three Guinness World Records – the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic from Europe to South America (continent to continent), the youngest person to solo row across the Atlantic from Europe to South America, and the youngest woman to solo row across any ocean.
Lachlan shared that during her journey, she would spend no less than 17 hours rowing each day, with her total sleep time not exceeding 4 hours. She divided her rest time into a 90-minute sleep cycle and 20-minute short breaks to maintain her physical strength.
Her day typically began at midnight, rowing until 3 am, followed by a 3-hour rest period for energy replenishment and relaxation. She would then resume rowing from 6 am to noon, take a 90-minute nap, and continue rowing until 9 pm, before resting and refueling until midnight to repeat the cycle.
Using a GPS system, she constantly sent messages to her support team and tried to call her boyfriend whenever possible. However, most of the time, she was alone, an experience she greatly cherished.
Reflecting on her journey, Lachlan expressed, “I have never spent such a long time alone before – a total of 97 days – but I really enjoyed it.”
Born in the United States but raised in the UK, Lachlan, while studying Physics at Loughborough University, decided to challenge herself by crossing the Atlantic.
She stated, “I just thought it would be interesting. I wanted to learn as much as possible while I had the time.”
Despite having no previous experience in rowing or fishing at sea, being entirely unfamiliar with maritime life and lacking equipment and supplies, Lachlan was fortunate to receive sponsorship from multiple companies to purchase her 7-meter boat and undergo three months of training.
Lachlan mentioned that her family supported her in her endeavor but also expressed concern. “When I told my mom, she cried, and my dad couldn’t believe I was really going because I needed a lot of money for it.”
She revealed that most people prepare for years before setting off on a sea voyage, but her plan was quite impromptu. She made the decision on July 2 last year, began training on August 1, and set sail on October 27.
Her journey was not without challenges. Initially, due to wind conditions, she frequently found herself spinning in place, making minimal progress. In her diary, she detailed how the first 39 days were mentally exhausting.
However, as she passed the Canary Islands, the weather became milder, and she started adapting to her routine life.
Around the 40th day, her boat capsized unexpectedly, and her phone was damaged, leaving her without music, audiobooks, or podcasts for company. For the subsequent 57 days, she was entirely alone, with rowing and her own thoughts as her sole companions, devoid of any entertainment.
Additionally, she encountered a perilous situation when a large vessel passed within 0.1 miles (0.16 kilometers) of her boat, as their tracking system failed to detect her presence, narrowly avoiding a collision.
After over three months at sea, she finally reached the shores of French Guiana, finding it hard to believe that she had completed her journey.
Lachlan expressed that the voyage had prepared her well for her future military career and instilled in her a powerful sense of overcoming nature and her own mindset. “I really enjoyed the whole experience.”