Hallucinatory Horses and being kind to yourself: how a 21-year-old from Cambridge set three world records
Zara Lachlan has become the first person to row solo and unsupported across the Atlantic ocean
Last updated 3rd Feb 2025
A 21-year-old from Cambridge has set three world records after rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Zara Lachlan arrived in French Guiana on Saturday after completing the challenge, which she had spent just two and a half months specifically training for. She described the experience as life-changing, saying, "Ocean rowing was such a new thing for me. I had about two and a half months of training specifically for this, so it was my life for five or six months."
During the crossing, Zara faced extreme conditions, including waves that appeared to turn into "running grey horses" due to hallucinations caused by exhaustion. She explained, "At the time, I knew that obviously wasn't real. But I would just watch these horses running around. I absolutely loved it. Some people have quite scary hallucinations, but mine were pleasant. I even saw fishermen walking in the sea picking up crabs, and for a moment, I thought I had somehow beached myself in the middle of the Atlantic. It was only after a while that I realised it wasn’t real and decided to sleep."
Despite the difficulties, she remained motivated by thoughts of returning home. "Every day in that first month when it was really hard, I wanted to stop. But I did actually want to finish it, so I was never going to give up," she said. "Every time I was tired before my break, I would think about seeing my boyfriend. If I could do anything to make that a little bit sooner, I wanted to do that. I don’t mind being tired for three months if it means I get to go home a few days earlier."
Zara, who is now returning to university, said the experience has changed her outlook. "I've always been very results-focused, but on this journey, I had to become kinder to myself. Some days I set goals that were completely unachievable, and I learned that was okay. Because I became more forgiving of myself, I found it easier to push forward rather than being afraid to fail. That’s something I hope stays with me. If it doesn’t, maybe I’ll have to do another crossing."
Throughout the challenge, Zara received messages of support from family, friends, and her training team, but she only realised the wider impact of her journey once she had completed it. "I didn’t realise how many strangers were following along. People have told me they’re starting something new because they saw what I was doing, and that means everything to me. My dad read me some of the messages when I got back, and it was surreal hearing how many people had been checking my tracker every day."
Zara received crucial assistance and guidance throughout her journey from Team Forces. When asked about future challenges, she said, "The Pacific is much bigger, but maybe. I’ve got to finish university first. I’m also joining Sandhurst in September, so I’ll see what I can do. Team Forces did absolutely everything to help me for this one, so I know that if I went back to them with another challenge, they’d support me."
Zara hopes her achievement will encourage others to take on new challenges. "You can do something new, and it might be scary at first, but you might really enjoy it. There are so many ways to stay fit, and you will find one that you love. There’s no point being miserable doing something just because you feel you have to. Find something that makes you happy."
To find out more about Zara's fundraising, visit here