Jasmine Harrison, 21, sets out to become the youngest female rower to cross the Atlantic. Will she make it, or is she just Rudderly Mad?
Imagine 70 days in lockdown. Now imagine it's alone, on a rowing boat, out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean... This is the challenge 21-year-old Jasmine Harrison (aka Team Rudderly Mad) will begin on the 12th of December 2020 in an attempt to become the youngest solo female rower to cross the Atlantic.
Jasmine will join 20 other teams in the annual Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challange - dubbed 'the world's toughest row'. Where solo rowers and teams of up to four will set off from La Gomera in the Spanish Canary Isles, and row more than 3000 miles West to Antigua.
To get to the start line Jasmine has had to commit to full-time training, all the while working and fundraising to cover the costs of her boat and her entry fee into the race. This balancing act was a challenge, even before the covid-19 pandemic hit British shores, but progress ground to a halt when the country went into its first lockdown.
Jasmine had been working with her coach and personal trainer JDW Fitness to build strength and conditioning in time for the arrival of her boat in the late summer. She would have less than three months out on the water to learn the essential onboard navigation and safety systems, so building her fitness early was vital. Determined not to let the Covid-19 setback scupper her plans she quickly turned the obstacle into an advantage - unable to work and fundraise she gained private access to her trainer's personal gym and used lockdown to focus on her daily workouts and machine rowing sessions. With the tight rules and social distancing there could be no distractions, and the challenge of facing these difficult training sessions alone all counted towards building the mental stamina required for the tough days, and months out at sea.
Jasmine however is no stranger to being alone in open water. At only 13-years-old she won the 3km open water swimming nationals, and in 2017 spent seven months sailing and island hopping in the Caribbean, regularly taking night shifts on deck and swimming to shore to explore. It was while traveling in Antigua at the end of 2018 that she stumbled on the Talisker Whiskey rowing challenge finish line and the seed to take part was sewn. The idea grew, and when she realised she could make an attempt on a World Record there was no turning back.
In Antigua, Jasmine learned of the devastating damage natural disasters, like hurricanes, can do to communities, which is why she has chosen to use her challenge to raise awareness and money for ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity.
Focused and feeling relaxed Jasmine launched her 7-meter R15 offshore rowing boat, 'Argo', in August. With only a short time before the boat needed to be shipped to Antigua, Jasmine now had to familiarise herself with life aboard by completing as many overnight and multi-day expeditions as the British weather would allow, to get a feel for what it would be like out at sea with only herself and Argo to rely on.
Luckily Argo has already proven itself up to the task. Previously called Peanuts, the R15 has already completed two successful crossings, carrying Dutchman Mark Slats to the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge course solo record in 2017. Slats completed the crossing in less than 31 days - faster than many teams of four.
The boat itself is made up of three main areas; two cabins, one at each end for sleeping and storage, and the rowing position in between. Each cabin has a watertight shuttable door, and home comforts are kept to a minimum to reduce weight. Sleeping in an airtight container, less than half the size of a telephone box, condensation from breath and humidity quickly makes everything damp, so Jasmine's opting for a simple beanbag and lightweight sheet for sleeping. She has treated herself to a few more solar panels than Mark allowed during his record-breaking row, but electricity will still have to be rationed.
Jasmine's solar panels all contribute to this self-sufficient green row. She will support a second charity The Blue Marine Foundation - an NGO enabling marine conservation to happen fast and effectively.
The 11 solar panels will generate electricity for Jasmine's Radio and AIS System. These will allow her to communicate and be visible to other boats. Her GPS navigation system, cabin and navigation lights, bilge pump, water purifier and autopilot also require electricity. The additional panels are allowing Jasmine the luxury of a few extras, like a satellite phone to stay in touch with her family and sponsors, and cameras to document her progress for a film being produced by Dog Dare Media. While solar electricity does afford her with some added comfort and safety it does, of course, rely on good weather. Once out at sea Jasmine will have to keep a careful eye out for bad weather so she can plan ahead, pre-making water and turning off her non-essential cameras and cabin lights.
Argo is now well on its way to the start line in Antigua, and while Jasmine can continue to build her strength and fitness, nothing will prepare her for the more mundane day-to-day life challenges she'll face during the months on the Atlantic. Her solar-powered water maker will desalinate 5lt in an hour, but without power, she'll have to do this by hand. Jasmine must of course keep well hydrated, but the water will also rehydrate her ration meal packs, and be used for personal hygiene. Saltwater can quickly lead to skin sores, so she will need to regularly rinse off the salt-spray, and dry her skin from head to toe. Even going to the toilet is not straightforward, she'll have to use a bucket and chuck it over-board.
But tackling an endurance challenge like this is about more than survival. When sat rowing for many hours each day, comfort and routine are also important. Jasmine is treating herself to a rolled-up yoga mat to use a cushion, and she's considering a different sleep cycle to the recommended 2hrs-on, 2hrs-off rowing routine - as she's going it solo Jasmine hopes to get into longer rowing sessions to allow better periods for sleeping, eating, washing, and of course go for a well earned open water swim.
As an open water swimmer, Jasmine has made sure she's carrying a long enough tether to get out for some proper swims. She must be attached to Argo at all times, but can't wait to get into the water -
'Swimming with 1000s of kilometers of water beneath you is mesmerising'
With a huge amount of support from her local community, friends, family and sponsors, laid-back Jasmine is feeling confident and ready to take to the waves. She hopes to inspire her peers, a generation who more than ever are suffering from anxiety and lack of confidence, to explore the world around them. She wants to demonstrate that there are no limit if you set your mind to it. She's certainly already inspired The 24hr Tourist!
While Jasmine busily tries to gain more strength, and pile on some fat reserves in these final weeks before the launch, she also is continuing to raise funds. So if this article inspires you, and you'd like to join JDW Fitness, Vet UK, Vencomatic Group, and Langver Engineering, in supporting Jasmine on the road to breaking the World Record by becoming the youngest solo female to row across the Atlantic, visit: https://www.rudderlymad.co.uk/support-me
The 24hr Tourist will catch up with Jasmine after the race to find out how she got on, so to follow her story, and more like this one please sign up to our mailing list, or follow us on social media.
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