Jasmine Harrison rowed solo from Spain to Antigua over the Atlantic Ocean in the 2020 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, also known as “the hardest row competition in the world”. Jasmine Harrison completed the 4,828 km journey in 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes. The race to a world title was inspiring but not always easy.

Jasmine departed from La Gomera in The Canary Islands in December and arrived in the Caribbean two months later. On her journey, she capsized twice and almost collided with a drilling ship. She was determined to complete the challenge on her own terms, meaning she was gonna compete solo rather than in a team. ‘I’ve been quite independent my entire life anyway. I just thought: I want to do this, so I’m going to do it. I love the feeling that you get from doing something by yourself, it’s just so freeing to me,’ she said in an interview with The Guardian. Competing solo has its advantages according to Harrison. 

Harrison started a GoFundMe to raise money for the two different foundations. Her goal was to raise almost 12.000 euros but she collected almost double, 21.787 euros. According to her Facebook page she says she hopes ‘to bring inspiration to young people that it is okay to go at things alone’.

Text: Zoë Van Schooten, Image: LOBS Arts