Former School Student is the First Uruguayan to Cross an Ocean

Our school has come up with a promising new idea called “Awareness and Celebrations”, in which every month a different campaign is dealt with as a way of bringing attention to several important issues. In April, the campaign works with climate change and the environment. Therefore, the school has invited Sofia Deambrosi to talk about her experience after becoming the first Uruguayan to cross an ocean.

An all-female crew became the first to row across the Atlantic ocean in an eco boat. The group, called Bristol Gulls, comprises 4 crew members: Phoebe, Lorna, Sarah, and Sofia. On December 12th, they began their journey from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and, after weeks of hard work, arrived in Antigua, an island in the Caribbean.

They survived seasickness, extreme temperatures, being capsized by huge waves, and strong winds. In order to make the experience more bearable, they rowed in two-hour shifts, trying to recover as much energy as possible when resting. After nearly 47 long days at sea and rowing for 4800 km, they completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

One of the most impressive facts about their journey is that it was carried out in an ecological vehicle. Their boat was made of 3 main components: resin, fiber, and core. It was built using renewable energy and 10,000 recycled plastic bottles. They made sure that even the packaging taken on board and the clothes they wore were environmentally friendly. Additionally, they used a solar-powered desalination unit to convert seawater into freshwater.

This inspiring team placed ninth overall, and Sofia Deambrosi became the first person from Uruguay and the first woman from South America to row across any of the world’s oceans. In interviews, she expressed how she hoped her efforts would inspire others to work hard and complete other challenges. The Bristol Gulls wanted to prove that no matter how hard it looks, anyone can succeed.

Bibliography:

All-female Bristol crew complete Talisker Atlantic Challenge. (2021, February 2nd). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-55880846

About Us. (n.d.). Talisker Whisky: Atlantic Challenge. https://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/about-us/

Four adventurous women taking on The Atlantic (2020). The Bristol Gulls. Retrieved from

https://www.thebristolgulls.com/

The Bristol Gulls: The Crew. (n.d.). The Bristol Gulls. https://www.thebristolgulls.com/the-crew

Uruguay Natural (2021). La uruguaya Sofía Deambrosi, primera mujer sudamericana en cruzar el Atlántico a remo. Uruguay XXI. Retrieved from https://marcapaisuruguay.gub.uy/la-uruguaya-sofia-deambrosi-primera-mujer-sudamericana-en-cruzar-el-atlantico-a-remo/