21 year-old Zara Lachlan defies the odds to complete historic, world first Atlantic row!
Hugely proud to announce that on Saturday 1st February 2025 Zara Lachlan arrived in French Guiana after spending 97 days 9 hours and 20 minutes rowing across the Atlantic ocean. By doing so 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 3,600 nautical mile (4,100 mile) voyage.
On her epic challenge she had to cope with 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.
On her arrival, Zara said: “It was just incredible to see land as I approached. It felt like it was not only the end of the journey 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.”
Major General Lamont Kirkland, CEO Team Forces, stated: “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 people will ever know.
Zara commented: “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 breath-taking 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.”
Zara 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!”
‘A huge thank you to my sponsors for helping me to take on this massive challenge.’
ZARA LACHLAN
About Zara Lachlan
Zara Lachlan is a 21-year-old physics student at Loughborough University who is joining the army in September 2025 as a technical officer. She has competed internationally in cycling and started rowing at 16 at Welbeck the Army’s 6th Form College. Zara is a highly determined, tenacious and motivated young woman, and is comfortable pushing her mental and physical boundaries. She firmly believes that life’s most rewarding moments lie in the challenges we embrace.