A PEEBLES woman is taking on one of the globe’s toughest challenges as she chases her second world record.
Taylor Winyard and her two team-mates, Charlotte Irving and Jessica Goddard, will attempt to row 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean in June.
The women are expected to experience serious sleep deprivation, sea sickness, hallucinations, heat stroke, salt sores, and all the waves Mother Nature can throw at them.
The challenge comes after Taylor completed an epic row in 2022, culminating in her previous team setting a new world record for the fastest mixed trio to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Now the 31-year-old has her eyes on another milestone – being part of the fastest female trio to row across the Pacific Ocean.
“From my experience on the Atlantic, it’s relentless – you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” said Taylor.
“It’s a journey that tests the limits of physical endurance, mental resilience and the ability to work as a team in the face of adversity.
“It’s the ultimate test of teamwork – you have to trust and put your body on the line for one another.
“It takes a huge amount of dedication to prepare to row an ocean.
“The training is hard graft and fitting it all in around work requires constant time management and a lot of compromise.”
The ‘Pacific Trio’ will travel from Monterey Harbor in California to Hanalei Bay on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaii.
The trio met competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in separate crews, rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean between December 2021 and January 2022.
Taylor reached land in Antigua after 40 days at sea as part of ‘Team Atlantic Nomads’, setting a new world record for the fastest mixed trio to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Jess and her team, ‘In Deep Ship,’ made land two days later, completing a world first as a mixed team of four – three women and one man.
Just two hours later, Charlotte reached Antigua, setting a new world record for the fastest female trio, alongside her ‘ExtraOARdinary’ team-mates.
In taking on the Pacific rowing challenge, the team hopes to increase female representation in sport and adventure, as well as raising as much money as possible for their chosen charities – Cancer Research UK and SportsAid.
“Sport has taught me and given me so much,” said Taylor.
“Not only has it given me my closest friends, but it has taught me how to work as a team as well as how to lead, how to bounce back, be patient and trust the journey, have self-belief, and to take every opportunity and chance when gifted to me.”
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