'I want to inspire others with solo Atlantic row'

Ananya Prasad spent 52 days rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean

A Sheffield woman is thought to be the first "woman of colour" to row solo across any ocean after completing a 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic.

Ananya Prasad, 34, who was born in India, started her journey on 11 December from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, before completing the voyage in Antigua on Saturday, after 52 days at sea.

Despite having no rowing experience, she decided to take part in the World's Toughest Row event, in which she was the only solo female entrant.

She said she hopes her achievement will encourage others to "take on challenges they might not have considered possible".

Event organisers said Ms Prasad "has entered the record books as the first woman of colour to row solo and unassisted across any ocean".

Speaking before she set off, she said: "This isn't just about me. It's about encouraging women of colour – and anyone from a different background – to take on challenges they might not have considered possible.

"It's about breaking barriers, not just for women, but for anyone who feels like they don't have the support or representation to pursue something like this."

Ms Prasad added she took part in the challenge to help raise money for the Mental Health Foundation and the Deenabandhu Trust, which offers a home and education for children who have been orphaned and living in poverty in South India.

Ananya Prasad said she wanted to "encourage women of colour" with her voyage

Due to not having any rowing experience before the challenge, she undertook three years of training to build the physical and mental resilience needed.

She also needed to learn how to deal with technical repairs to the boat, as well as be able to survive without a support crew.

Those keeping up with Ms Prasad's social media accounts during her voyage saw her close encounters with orcas, as well as her dealing with broken rudders on her boat and overcoming her phobia of deep water by jumping into the ocean to clean the boat's hull of barnacles.

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