Record-breaking Scot is first to row Pacific and Atlantic

Taylor Winyard, Charlotte Irving and Jessica Goddard after breaking the Pacific rowing record

A health spa boss from the Borders has become the first Scot to row the world's two largest oceans.

Despite capsizing twice, Taylor Winyard was part of the all-female trio who smashed the previous world record for crossing the Pacific.

Alongside Ireland's Charlotte Irving and Jessica Goddard from England, the 32-year-old completed the 2,800 miles from California to Hawaii in just 38 days - two days inside the previous women's record and 25 hours faster than the male record.

Taylor, who rowed the Atlantic in 2022, said: "The Atlantic was really tough, but this was another ball game - it was absolutely brutal."

Taylor's latest world record row began at Monterey Bay in California on 8 June.

For the next 38 days, one hour and 34 minutes, the three rowers worked on two-hour rowing shifts with a one-hour sleep break.

As well as sleep deprivation, they suffered from sea sickness, heat stroke and salt sores.

"We were told that the first two weeks would be hard as you have to cope with a wall of wind, but the bad weather continued for three weeks," Taylor said.

"It was really tough - there were huge waves, a lot of difficult currents and it was much colder than we thought it would be.

"We were dressed in our full weather gear for the first three weeks, until the sun finally came out... and that's when we started to get burnt."

Taylor Winyard has now become a double world record holder

Although Taylor, Jessica and Charlotte set off claiming they would be satisfied with just completing the 2,800 mile route, they still had one eye on the previous all-women's record of 40 days and four hours.

After twice capsizing during storms and encountering strong currents, they felt their chance of setting a new best time had gone.

Taylor said: "We thought the record was out of reach after the first two weeks but as we closed in on Hawaii it became apparent that we could do it.

"You don't get too excited as it only takes for one of us to become ill, a power outage or something to break on the boat for everything to change.

"It was only when we arrived at Kaua'i that we were told that we'd not only broken the women's record but also the men's time.

"I just feel so proud to have done this for Scotland."

It wasn't until they reached Hawaii that Taylor, Charlotte and Jessica were told that they had broken the men's world record

With a year of preparation, the three rowers managed to control mood swings and maintain humour throughout the 38 days.

Even the difficult weather and sea conditions of the first three weeks didn't break spirits aboard the nine-metre rowing boat.

Taylor explained: "We get on really well, although it was challenging at times as there's so little space.

"When you're sleep deprived you can be a bit snappy or emotional, but we stuck together well.

"A happy boat is a fast boat, and we got through all of the difficult times together."

Jessica, Taylor and Charlotte after arriving in Hawaii

Taylor's first world-record came in 2022 when she rowed the Atlantic, between the Canary Islands and Antigua, with Tom Rose and James Woolley in a time of 40 days and 37 minutes.

The director of Stobo Health Spa in Peeblesshire, along with her two team-mates, will now spend the next fortnight recovering in Hawaii before returning to the UK.

Although Taylor has been confirmed as the first Scot to row both oceans, Edinburgh brothers Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan MacLean are currently preparing to add to their own Atlantic rowing record by embarking on a Pacific challenge.