Sport

05 Aug 09

Sarah Outen is the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean.

An Oxford graduate has become the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean.

Sarah Outen, who read biology at St Hugh’s College from 2004–7, set off from the west coast of Australia in April and arrived at the island of Mauritius on Monday evening.

She was welcomed by crowds of well-wishers as a local boat guided her to the island after a gruelling 124 days at sea and more than 3,100 miles.

The former Oxford rower said it was 'an astonishing experience' and she had seen the elements 'in all their states'.

After arriving in Mauritius, Sarah Outen said: 'It's beautiful out there and it's been really exciting seeing the elements in their good and bad states. In the last days I've have whales surfing past the boat and albatrosses flying overhead.'

Sarah’s first experiences of rowing came at Oxford. She said: 'Seeing the famous GB Men’s four on TV … I was sure I wanted rowing to be my sport once I got to university. Dominated by biology and rowing, they were great times in the city of dreaming spires. It was there I decided that one day I would row an ocean, and that my first would be the Indian.'

Sarah rowed with her college 1st VIII, captaining them to ‘blades’ in Oxford University Torpids and Summer Eights and racing successfully in externals.

'I was lucky enough to row with the University crews in the Development Squad of 2006,' Sarah said. 'But Dad’s untimely death just before we were due to row at Henley changed my focus – it was all about surviving. At this point I decided to go solo across the ocean.'

She dedicated the trip to her father who died suddenly in 2006. As he was a sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis, she raised money for Arthritis Care.

Sarah will be talking about her experiences on 27 September at Oxford’s third Alumni Weekend.