Woman's solo Atlantic row reaches 1,000-mile mark

Zara Lachlan has encountered dolphins, a penguin and an octopus on her row so far, and, more worryingly, some orca which have been known to sink small boats

A 21-year-old who is hoping to become the first woman - and youngest person - to row solo from mainland Europe to South America has completed her first 1,000 miles (1,609km).

Zara Lachlan, from Cambridge, set off from the Portuguese Algarve on 27 October, and has been rowing up to 20 hours a day ever since.

She said she had experienced "the toughest past of the row", with "very long hours of rowing in slow conditions" just to make headway.

The recent graduate aims to row 3,600 nautical miles (6,668km) to French Guiana in about 90 days, and wants to inspire other women to get into fitness.

"I’m around the Canaries now and can see land," Ms Lachlan said.

"Once past the Canaries, the weather is much more predictable across the Atlantic – which will be nice."

Ms Lachlan, who has competed internationally in cycling and began rowing at the Army's Wellbeck Defence Sixth Form College, says she is now hoping for more predictable weather

Despite battling challenging weather and head winds, she has told on her social media updates how she has been joined by a series of marine life, including dolphins, a penguin - and an octopus that attached itself to her para anchor.

Ms Lachlan found an encounter with some orcas, which have been known to sink small boats, less welcome.

She expects to lose a third of her body weight and her supplies include 5,500 kcal of meals and snacks per day.

Ms Lachlan set off in the 24ft (7m) long boat from Lagos, Portugal, carrying 800kg (1,764lb) of supplies, including meals and snacks - all of which she will eat cold

Her mother, Claire Lachlan, who cried when the challenge was first mentioned, said: "We are so incredibly proud of Zara – it has been a monumental effort to get her to the Canaries through some really tough conditions."

Ms Lachlan is raising money for Women In Sport and Team Forces - a charity that aims to improve "the lived experience for the armed forces community through the power of sport, challenge and adventure".

Maj Gen Lamont Kirkland, the chief executive of Team Forces, said: "She’s not had it easy during this first and most difficult stage of the row, yet she's shown true courage and tenacity about the task in hand."

The Loughborough University physics graduate plans to join the Army as a technical officer on her return.