Canadian Woman Preps to Row Across Atlantic

Photo credit: Metro News/Graham Spence

Brenda Robbins of Vancouver has only been rowing for about a year, but she’s prepping to take on a big challenge.

Brenda’s planning an unassisted rowing trip from the Canary Islands to Antiqua; that’s 5,500 kilometers or 3,417 miles across the Atlantic to raise awareness for blood donation.

This trip is part of the 2015 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge known as the “world’s toughest rowing race.”

Brenda was inspired to row solo in the Atlantic after a friend took on a similar challenge in the Pacific Ocean.

“It seems very crazy to begin with,” Robbins told Metro News in Vancouver, “but I just became obsessed.”

Blood donation is an issue close to Brenda’s heart. Her father was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2013 and weekly blood transfusions are saving his life.

“It’s vital,” she said. “Doctors gave him a limited time frame to live and he’s pretty much reached that point of what they said.”

So how does Brenda’s family feel about her endeavor? The results are mixed.

Since the journey includes the challenge of sever storms, strong currents and seasickness, those closest to Brenda have shown concern.

“A lot of people are very excited about it, but family especially, they’re concerned,” she said. “Because it’s not a very well known thing to do, there’s a lot of fear immediately that it’s an extremely dangerous and life-threatening thing, which it can be.”

The journey is expected to take about 90 days, and there are many safety precautions in place to help Brenda reach her goal.

“The boats that they make, they make them for the ocean,” she said. “They almost never sink.”

Right now, Brenda is looking for sponsors to fund her participation. The cost of the boat and entry fee is close to $170,000.

“It’s a great opportunity for businesses to get on board,” she said.

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