First Irishwoman to row solo across the Atlantic arrives in Barbados

The first Irishwoman to row solo and unaided across the Atlantic ocean has ended her record-breaking feat after more than 80 days rowing 3,000 nautical miles that tested her to the limits of endurance.

Dr Karen Weekes, a sports psychologist from Kinvara, Co Galway arrived in Bridgetown to a jubilant welcome from family and friends after nightfall on Thursday. Draped in the tri colour the 54 year old adventurer is only the 20th woman in the world to row an ocean solo.

She had faced mountainous seas, was forced to dive underneath her small self-righting craft to repair a broken rudder and ran into a storm just days after starting her voyage from Gran Canaria in early December.

Making light of the numerous challenges she faced the sports psychology lecturer at Munster Technological University told Barbados Minister for Sport Charles Griffith and local media gathered around her: "I love endurance sports; I am really not into records but I love the fact that I am making a little bit of history and I love that I am also making history for my family".

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Dr Weekes undertook the massive feat, as part of the #SheCanDo campaign which aims to provide a platform for encouraging women and girls to push themselves outside their comfort zones and believe in their abilities to succeed both in their work and everyday lives.

Her voyage has raised funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and Irish children's hospice the Laura Lynn Foundation. She also wants to highlight the UN's Sustainable Development Goals specifically on 'gender equality' and 'life under the water' which focusses on the conservation of oceans and marine life.

Gigantic waves

Deeply tanned and in good spirits ,despite being tossed about in gigantic waves and encountering difficult weather and wind conditions - without trade winds to help her progress - Weekes said of the adventure “it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life; it really pushed me”

“There was many a time out there when I broke down in tears, many a time I screamed at Neptune and the wind and those huge waves”, she added.

Throughout many years testing herself to the limits of endurance - that is part and parcel of her academic expertise - she had previously cycled 6,442 km across Canada, circumnavigated Ireland in a kayak, sailed the Atlantic twice and climbed Africa's two highest peak - Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. And that's just a sample of Karen Weekes extraordinary past exploits.

To cheers of “we can do it; she did it” from over 30 supporters, family and friends including adventure sports pals who travelled from Ireland, Karen emerged from her craft, waved a tri colour and gave them the thumbs up I got to here, I’m here”.

Describing her worst moments she said they came during “awfully big seas out there” and several weeks ago in searing heat when her brain felt like “it was on fire” , she couldn’t row, had no energy and kept falling asleep.

“That was really challenging that time”, she explained.

Magical moments

But there were magical moments too all alone on the immense ocean whilst spotting whales and dolphins. Sharks came by also and she hit a hammerhead shark by mistake who came alongside with her oar. The bird life was amazing and whenever fishermen approached for a look she warned them off killing dorado who were with her for much of the journey.

As to loneliness Karen Weekes said she had no time to feel alone during the first few weeks because she was so busy learning to work with the boat, rowing and organising her communication. She kept up regular fascinating Instagram posts with video through the #She Can Do It campaign.

“Towards the end I was really looking forward to getting back to people and land” she confessed. Dr Weekes will now “process everything” so that her experience can be brought to bear on inspiring others to take on such feats of endurance.

Karen’s wildlife biologist sister Linda was one of the first to greet her from aboard a motor yacht that went out into Bridgetown bay whilst on the quayside the Irish contingent ,includingi adventure sports friends and neighbours from Kinvara, Co Galway, sang and cheered. “I could hear them way out in the bay, I could hardly believe they had all travelled out; I can’t thank them enough for all the support they offered in different ways also whilst I was planning my journey” she added.