On Sunday 27th October, 21 year old Zara Lachlan, set off 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 solo rower to complete this crossing non-stop 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 created and managed Zara’s training programme. In just 4 months, she bought a boat, undertook over 400 training hours on the water, 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 have handled all the boat logistics to Portugal and back from French Guiana, and Charlie and Lizzie were in attendance in Portugal during the prep and scrutineering period pre-departure. With Zara now underway, we are supplying 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.

You can follow Zara on the YB Races App "Zara's World Record Solo Row 2024".

Follow her on Instagram @atlantic_solo_ zara

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