Sara, 64, is oldest woman to row across any ocean
A 64-YEAR-OLD has become the oldest woman to row an ocean after crossing the Atlantic in 86 days.
Sara Brewer achieved the feat alongside her rowing partner, Ann Prestidge, 35.
The pair set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 12 last year, rowing 3,000 miles to reach the shores of Antigua on Saturday – just in time for International Women’s Day.
Ms Brewer, who first took up rowing six years ago, and Ms Prestidge battled 65ft-high waves, fought through numerous storms, suffered broken oars, food rationing and injuries.
They completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge as the final crew to arrive successfully, a month- and-ahalf after the fastest crew.
Ms Brewer, of London, said: “We never anticipated it would take us this long – we were hoping to finish in mid-february – so the extended row has been tough both mentally and physically.
“We were rowing 1.5 hours each in rotation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to finish before running out of food. For the past three weeks, we’ve been surviving on two meals a day and next to no sleep. We’re delighted to finally set foot on dry land.”
Their efforts have raised more than £45,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society and Street League.
HSBC employee Ms Brewer was inspired to take on the challenge after reading the first few pages of
The Crossing by James Cracknell and Ben Fogle.
She met Ms Prestidge at the Poplar, Blackwall and District Rowing Club in London in 2013.