Later this month, after an intense 3 month training programme with Rannoch, 21 year old Zara Lachlan, will be leaving from Portugal on her 3,600 mile ocean rowing challenge, aiming to arrive in French Guiana and bag herself three world records in the process:

1 - the first female to row this crossing solo and unsupported

2 - the youngest person to complete this crossing in any boat

3 - the youngest female to go from any mainland to mainland across the Atlantic Ocean in any boat.

Although this is Zara’s first ocean crossing, she found her love for rowing through the Loughborough Students Rowing Club and will be fundraising for her two chosen charities: Women in Sport and Team Forces.

Rannoch has created and managed Zara’s training programme. In just 3 months, she has bought a boat, undertaken 340 training hours on the water (with a further 75 hours planned before departure), spent many nights living on board the boat to familiarise herself with every aspect of it, attended Rannoch’s Power Management Course and learnt everything there is to know about the all-important water maker.

We have assisted with Zara’s preparations and modifications on the boat, advised on her kit list, medical list and communications equipment as well as on her requirements for Ships Papers/registration/AIS programming etc. We will also be handling all the boat logistics to Portugal and back from French Guiana, and will be in attendance in Portugal during the prep and scrutineering period pre-departure. Once preparations are completed and Zara is underway, we will supply weather routing information and strategic/offshore support.

This “Zero to Hero” package of training, support and mentoring from the very start of a campaign through to the finish draws on all the strengths of the Rannoch brand – experience and knowledge of boats, seamanship, logistics and all things ocean rowing.

Watch this space for more updates on Zara’s unique challenge 👀

‍