97 days 9 hours and 20 minutes after leaving the shores of Portugal on the 27th October at 09:00 UTC, 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 3600 nautical miles (4,100 miles) voyage and did so despite 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. Zara arrived into Grand Port Maritime de la Guyane, south of Rémiré, French Guiana on Saturday 01 February where she was greeted to a hero’s welcome. On her arrival, she said:

It was just incredible to see land as I approached. It felt like it was not only the end of the challenge 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. The hardest section of the voyage by far was through the Canaries. It felt like all the wind and weather was against me. I was pushing hard for 21 hours a day and going just 11 miles. It was soul crushing.

 

I’m not sure it’s fully sunk in yet, however it goes without saying that I took on a massive challenge and won – nothing beats that feeling.

 

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. 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. I’ve made memories that I will cherish and that will stay with me for life.

 

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!

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.