Bengaluru’s Ananya Prasad becomes first woman of colour to row solo across the Atlantic

Ananya Prasad, a 34-year-old adventurer from Bengaluru, has made history as the first woman of colour to complete a solo rowing expedition across the Atlantic Ocean. She set off from La Gomera in Spain’s Canary Islands on December 11, 2024, and arrived in Antigua after 52 days, securing second place in the solo category of the prestigious World’s Toughest Row.

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Though she moved to the UK at six, Ananya has deep ties to Karnataka as the granddaughter of noted Kannada poet G. S. Shivarudrappa. She described the journey as an adventure beyond just rowing, which she enjoys as a fitness activity.

Preparing for the grueling challenge took over three years of intense physical, mental, and technical training. At one point, she had to dive beneath her boat in turbulent waters to repair a broken rudder despite her discomfort with deep-sea swimming. She also regularly cleaned the hull to maintain speed.

Her days consisted of rowing for 12 hours, broken up by brief rests and about five to six hours of sleep. Along the way, she encountered marine life, including whales, orcas, and flying fish. Now on land, she is relaxing in Antigua after her record-setting feat.