Coxless Crew: Women rowers break records for crossing the Pacific

A team of British women adventurers today celebrated rowing 9,200 miles across the Pacific.

The Coxless Crew left San Francisco on April 20 in Doris, their 29ft pink boat, and today reached Cairns in Queensland.

The women, including Londoners Natalia Cohen, 40, and Laura Penhaul, 32, said it was “an overwhelming experience”.

Ms Cohen said: “It’s a little bit sad in a way, but I think we’re all quite elated.”

The six women broke two records, becoming the first all-female team and the first team of four to row the Pacific.

They rowed in pairs for two hours on and two hours off. Ms Penhaul, Ms Cohen and Emma Mitchell, 30, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, rowed the whole trip, while Isabel Burnham, 31, of Saffron Walden, Lizanne van Vuuren, 27, a South African, and Meg Dyos, 25, from London, rowed a leg.

They hope to raise £250,000 for Walking With The Wounded and Breast Cancer Care.