Zara Lachlan, a 21 year old from Cambridge, has embarked on an ambitious attempt to become the first woman to row solo from mainland Europe (Lagos, Algarve) to mainland South America.
The young woman set off from Lagos on Sunday with the aim of covering 3,600 nautical miles to French Guiana, a journey estimated to take around 90 days.
Lachlan, who will join the British Army in September as a technical officer after completing a degree in Physics at Loughborough University, wants to encourage other women to be more physically active. “I know it seems like an extreme way to inspire other women to take up sport, but I want people to realise their potential and if I can complete this challenge without ever having rowed in open water before, then other women can try their own challenge, although probably not a transatlantic crossing,” she said.
The young athlete also highlighted that she feels prepared and strong, having worked with some of the best ocean rowing coaches in the world, including Charlie Pitcher and Lizzie Brown, whom she describes as a “second mother” over the past six months. “However, I am aware that I am doing something incredibly dangerous, which has never been attempted by anyone my age,” she warned.
If she successfully completes the crossing, Zara Lachlan will become the youngest person to row solo and unsupported from continental Europe to continental South America. She will also be the first woman to complete the crossing solo, and the youngest person to row solo between two Atlantic continents.
To achieve her goal, Zara expects to row up to 20 hours a day, expecting to lose a third of her body weight along the way. Her provisions include meals and snacks totalling around 5,500 kcal per day.
Claire Lachlan, Zara’s mother, revealed that she was thrilled when her daughter told her about the challenge. “We will always be worried about our children, but rowing across an ocean alone takes that to a whole new level. That said, we couldn’t be more proud of her. She has worked incredibly hard to prepare and has a rare strength of character that will be essential when the going gets tough. We know she can do it,” she said.
Zara Lachlan is raising funds for Women In Sport and Team Forces, the latter of which is dedicated to improving the experience of the armed forces community through sport, challenge and adventure. “While the ocean is a challenging beast, it is also incredibly beautiful and I am looking forward to witnessing things like the night sky without light pollution. Even seeing orcas in the next few days will be fascinating, as long as they leave my boat alone,” she joked.
