On February 20, 2021, Jasmine Harrison became the youngest woman to row (划艇) alone across the Atlantic Ocean. It took the 21 - year - old swimming teacher just over 70 days to do it.
Ms. Harrison, who's from England, didn't have much experience in rowing long distances (距离). She got the idea three years ago when she happened to be in Antigua.
There she saw the end of the 2017 Talisket Whisky Atlantic Challenge. "I just thought I want to do this so I'm going to do it," she said.
Every year, rowers taking part in the Atlantic Competition set out from the Canary Islands in December and row about 4,800 kilometers across the Atlantic. Some row in teams of two, three or four. Others, like Ms. Harrison, row by themselves.
It wasn't easy. Every day, Ms. Harrison would row for about 12 hours. She rowed about 20,000 strokes(划) a day.
Ms. Harrison had a smartphone that permitted her to talk with family and friends every day. Along the way she saw lots of sea life, including some whales. For several days, she was followed by a small group of dolphins(海豚). "I was in their environment," she said. "It was just amazing."
There was danger, too. Twice, her boat was turned over in the night by large waves. She hurt her elbow quite badly. Another time, she nearly ran into a ship.
Anyway, she kept going. Finally, on February 20, after 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes, she reached Antigua-the end of the journey. Ms. Harrison's rowing has made her the youngest woman ever to row alone across the Atlantic. Before, that record was held by Kaitie Spotz from the USA, who crossed the Atlantic as a 22-year-old girl in 2010.
