Sophie and a team of 3 other women from West Wales rowed across the Atlantic from 1st February to 26th March 2025. In this Aquapac blog, she tells us her story.
Tell us about your trip.
"In short, it was incredible, what an experience to have the opportunity."
"It was relentless, we rowed for 2 hours on and 2 hours off for 22 hours a day. We had 4.5-metre waves, electrical failures, headwinds that stopped us rowing, the heaviest rain I’ve ever experienced and 39-degree heat. For 53 days, 12 hours and 1 minute, we were at the mercy of the ocean, and we quickly learnt that the ocean decided what happened!
"Before we set off, we faced multiple challenges as the shipping of the boat was significantly delayed, and when it arrived, we found major issues with the boat's electrics, which meant we had to rewire the boat and replace all the solar panels just a week before setting off."
"There were also storms in the North Atlantic that were sending huge swells down towards us, so we were delayed for a further week. We eventually set off on the 1st February, with 3200 miles of open ocean between us and our finish point, Antigua. We lost sight of land on day 4, spending the next 49 days looking out to open ocean, which most of the time had no other vessels in sight."
What were the highlights?
"Without doubt, the team. We created our own community on the boat, one that was kind and supportive. We laughed and cried together and when I think about the row, the overriding thought is that, we did it together. We made time for fun and my job was social secretary! We had a quiz, bingo night, Valentines day social and weekly treats of cans of coke. We even made pancakes on pancake day (it’s amazing what you can do with a tiny frying pan, jet boil and pre mixed pancake batter!)"
"Seeing nature ‘do it’s thing ‘ completely uninterrupted was magical too. You noticed the changes in the wave patterns, found joy in funny shaped clouds, watched the rain move in and the moon rises were spectacular!"
"Arriving into Antigua after 53 days, 12 hours and 1 minute at sea was out of this world. We were greeted with a beautiful welcome from the Atlantic Dash event and our friends and family. This was a moment will stay with us for a long time."
Why did you do it?
"Initially, because of one of crew mates, Janine, asked me one day at our local rowing club and I simply couldn’t say no."
"Adventure has played a significant part throughout my adult life (although never anything of this scale!) and as I live with the health condition, Cystic Fibrosis, I embrace the opportunity to go on all the adventures my health will allow me too."
"Life is too short (more so when you live with a chronic health condition) to not say yes and grab hold of exciting opportunities when they arise."
What Aquapac did you have with you? How did they help?
"Due to my Cystic Fibrosis, I needed to take my nebuliser on the row so that I could maintain my treatment regime, which enables me to stay well. The available nebulisers are not waterproof, which was essential in such a harsh and wet environment. The Aquapac Large Medical Device Case enabled me to fully waterproof the nebuliser, which meant it worked throughout the whole crossing."
Would you do it again?
"Never say never!! I’m not sure if there will be another ocean row but there will definitely be some other big adventures. Please donate to the Cystic Fibrosis charity if you can. Here's a link to my Go Fund Me page."
"A huge thank you to Aquapac for supporting our Atlantic row, your support has played an important role in me becoming the first person with Cystic Fibrosis to row an ocean."
"P.S – if anyone asks you to row an ocean, say YES!"