At 21, she drops everything and crosses the Atlantic rowing

Learning to row in a year, going to sea with a reserve of 40 kg of chocolate and breaking a world record: this is the incredible destiny of Jasmine Harrison. At only 21 years old, the young Englishwoman has just won the title of the youngest rower to have crossed an ocean solo. His 4,828 kilometer odyssey lasted 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes.

Juggling between two jobs, swimming instructor and bartender, Jasmine had never touched an oar a year earlier. It was when she discovered the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge on television that she fell in love with solo rowing. In November 2019, she announced that she wanted to register for the 2020 edition. Her goal: to become the youngest rower to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo. A record set so far by American Katie Spotz in 2010.

The Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge is reputed to be the most extreme rowing race. Each year, about thirty participants cross the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to Antigua and Barbuda. They face the capricious mood of the sea, exhausting physical conditions and heavy loneliness. Very little for Jasmine: she admits that she never felt alone.

When a rhythm of two hours of rowing and two hours of continuous sleep was recommended, she preferred to row for twelve hours in a row and then enjoy her boat, baptized Argo. And when the candidates fed on carefully chosen rations, she set her sights on biscuits and chocolate. She confides having consumed 40 kg in all. Something to make us uninhibited: even great athletes have cravings.

Because if Jasmine has an appetite for victory, she also has a good appetite period. As soon as she returned to terra firma, she celebrated her victory by crunching her teeth into her first burger… Carpe Diem remains the motto of this adventure.