In January, four women with very different backgrounds are setting off on an extraordinary six-week journey to row across the Atlantic. Setting off from Lanzorote, the team, known as Cruising Free, plan to row 3,200 miles to Antigua for reasons close to their heart.
Cruising Free is made up of 32-year-old Sophie Pierce, who has cystic fibrosis, nurse Polly Zipperlen, 50, 70-year-old Janine Williams and Miyah Periam, 24. The four women from Neyland Rowing Club in Pembrokeshire are setting out to showcase hope, courage and tenacity as they take it in turns to row their 10 metre-boat in pairs unaided.
Along the way, the women are also hoping to break two world records. Sophie is aiming to become the first person with cystic fibrosis to row an ocean, while 70-year-old Janine hopes to become the oldest woman to row any ocean.
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Sophie said: “Being a woman living with cystic fibrosis I hope to show through my actions to others not only living with cystic fibrosis but maybe other chronic illnesses or disabilities that you can do more than society tells you that you can.
“It just takes a lot of courage and a bit of bravery to say that even though it’s not been done before, that doesn’t mean it can’t be, just that no-one has been mad enough to do it. ” For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
Sophie added: “If you had told me five years ago that I would be well enough to participate in this challenge, I wouldn’t have believed you. I am so grateful to be able to access new drugs that have improved my health and enabled me to become involved with such an extraordinary challenge. But, there are still other people living with cystic fibrosis who have been unable to access this treatment, and raising awareness and improving access for all people with CF is a huge motivational factor.”
At 70, Janine is also hoping to make history herself by becoming the oldest woman to row one of the world’s five oceans and prove that it is never too late to take on new challenge. She said: “I’ve never seen my age as a barrier to doing anything at all. Part of what I want to do with this row is to inspire other older women that just because they are getting older it doesn’t mean they have to stop doing things. “
The youngest member of Cruising Free, Miyah, is also showing incredible resilience by taking part in the challenge after losing her mum to cancer last year. Miyah had intially applied to be the fourth member of the crew but withdrew after her mother’s condition worsened.
However, after her mother’s death family friend Polly reached out again and asked if Miyah would join the crew. She said: “I had doubts – I didn’t know the other women and wasn’t sure if I’d be the right fit. It took me a week to process it all, but in the end, it felt like the universe was pushing me to take this leap.”
The team will spend 60 days on their boat, named “Spirit of Bluestone” -Credit:Cara Gaskell Photography
As well as these word records and personal achievements, the women are also raising money for three charities close to the team’s hearts: the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, and Emily’s Entourage. Polly, who is a nurse, explained that she has always wanted to row the Atlantic but was pushed towards it after her experience during the pandemic.
She said: “I’ve been thinking about the Atlantic challenge for a long time – probably close to 25 years, even before I started properly rowing. Then Covid hit, and it changed everything for me.
“As a nurse, I spent a lot of time in care homes, and it was such a restrictive, isolating time. Experiencing that up close made me re-evaluate what I wanted out of life. I needed something different, something that really mattered that I could truly throw myself into.
“As I approached 50, the opportunity came up to join this incredible group of women, and by October 2022, I decided to go for it. Honestly, I’m not sure how I would have navigated the next phase of my life without this challenge to focus on. It gave me a purpose and something to push myself toward.”
The team have been working hard to train and raise the funds they need to make it to the start line on January 23. The boat, named “Spirit of Bluestone”, will carry 1,000 dehydrated meals, advanced communications, a water desalination machine, a fridge and will be the women’s home for 60 days as they take on the extreme challenge.
Local businesses have rallied behind the team to get them to the start line but they are still looking for more sponsors to cover equipment and transport costs. Donations to support the women on their challenge can be made to the Cruising Free GoFundMe page.