Devon women finish ‘world’s toughest row’

After six weeks at sea, four women from Devon have become the first all-female crew this year to reach the finish line of a race dubbed the world’s toughest row.

They valiantly rowed 3,000 miles in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and were continuously challenged with early seasickness and power issues, and had to dig deep physically and mentally. However, Kirsty Barker, 28, Kate Salmon, 31, Rosalind West, 36, and Laura Try, 36, known as team Row for the Ocean, conquered it all to take 10th place in a close race to the finish line in English Harbour, Antigua. To get there they had to row two hours on, two hours off.

They set off for their adventure of a lifetime on December 12th, from La Gomera, Canary Islands, and spent 43 days, two hours and 20 minutes at sea. What makes their triumph even more special is Laura, who works for an ocean rowing boat builder, only took up rowing six years ago.