Falmouth woman helps break world record in 2,400 mile rowing challenge
The 'Ocean Sheroes' are the fastest all female four to row the Great Pacific Race
A woman from Falmouth has helped to break a world record in the Great Pacific Race.
The group, named the 'Ocean Sheroes', have smashed the Guinness Book of World Record for the fastest all female four to row 2,400 nautical miles, Mid-Pacific route East to West (Open Class) from San Francisco to Hawaii in a time of 35 days, 14 hours and 32 minutes.
They also become the first all British four to complete the Great Pacific Race.
One of the toughest endurance challenges on earth, the Ocean Sheroes, Bella Collins (Falmouth, Cornwall), Purusha Gordon (Luckington, Wiltshire), Mary Sutherland (Portsmouth, Hampshire) and Lily Lower (Burnham on Crouch, Essex) have been pushed to their limits, rowing 2 hours on 2 hours off, 24/7 in brutal conditions of 30ft waves and gusts of wind reaching 47mph.
Despite this they have smashed the previous world record of 50 days, 8 hours and 14 minutes by 14 days.
Since its launch in 2014, only 22 teams have ever completed the Great Pacific Race, rowing 2,400 nautical miles from San Francisco to Hawaii, with only two four-person all females teams reaching the finish line.
To put this in perspective, over 4,000 people have climbed Mt Everest, 1,604 have wintered in the South Pole and 566 people have been to space.
Bella Collins, from Falmouth, said: “Sharing another ocean crossing with my best friend and brother Angus was an absolute privilege. He’s my biggest supporter and I couldn’t do it without him. It’s an experience that bonds us beyond anything else! No plans for another adventure... I think we both need to rest and recover now!”
For Purusha, mum of two young boys Harry (8) and Alfie (7) this was more than just a record, she said: “Achieving the record was something I had hung my hat on for a while as a definition of success. Halfway through the row, I realised the record was just a small part of it. To cross an ocean by human power alone and to cross waters never chartered before, at times at the mercy of Mother Nature, was a privilege and the most incredible adventure of a lifetime. Whilst the certificate will hang on the wall, it’s the experience, stories and learnings that will continue to shape me for the better. I hope, I can inspire other mums and women out there to be brave, say yes and believe they can too.”
Lily Lower said there were highs and lows: “Whilst the nightshifts were super tough when the waves were hitting us from all angles in the pitch black, the incredible sunsets and moonrise and surfing down the waves made up for it.”
When asked what the secret of the team success was, Mary Sutherland said: “Resilience and goal focused is key, along with knowing your teams capabilities and how hard you can push them. These ladies didn’t disappoint. We spent a lot of time learning each other’s motivations, personal goals and personalities are important living in such close quarters and intense conditions. Throw in a general ‘get it done’ attitude and you have a recipe for great things. My personal expectations of what our team could achieve was around the 40 mark and I’m so happy to have blown that out of the water but we worked hard for our achievements.”