New Hampshire Woman Completes Solo Rowing Journey Across Atlantic Ocean

Renee Blacken, 43, from Bethlehem, New Hampshire, completed a solo rowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip covered 3,200 miles and lasted 65 days. She departed from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands on January 24 and arrived in Antigua in the Caribbean on March 30.

Blacken's equipment included two 70-pound batteries, a four-person inflatable raft, a desalinator for producing fresh water, and 18 jars of peanut butter. She rowed for 12 hours each day in shifts and consumed approximately 4,500 calories daily. At night, a parachute anchor was deployed to reduce drag and maintain the boat's position.

The journey was part of the Atlantic Dash event, which launched about a dozen rowing crews across the Atlantic that winter. Event organizer Billy Taylor stated that Blacken is the fourth American woman to complete such a crossing. Blacken prepared with regular CrossFit training and a two-night rowing expedition as her longest prior practice.

Blacken serves as president of Outdoor Adventuring for Good, a nonprofit organization that funds trauma recovery services in northern New Hampshire through sports activities.

The organization raised $17,000 in donations for various programs during the event. An additional $17,000 was raised through a GoFundMe campaign to cover rowing expenses. Blacken attended The Putney School in Vermont, where she learned rowing, and later rowed for Bates College in the early 2000s.

She trained at Mount Washington CrossFit in Lisbon, New Hampshire. Her vessel weighed more than 1,000 pounds.

returned to New Hampshire on Wednesday, greeted by an ambulance escort and cheering neighbors.

During the journey, she experienced isolation, with no face-to-face contact with others from departure until arrival in Antigua. For bathroom needs, she used ocean-based methods. " — Renee Blacken (The Boston Globe) Blacken noted that weather conditions and winds influenced daily progress more than personal effort.

She described finding daily elements of beauty and joy despite challenges. The trip provided time for reflection, aligning with her goals for the endeavor.