Sarah makes history

Arthritis Care’s champion fund-raiser Sarah Outen today ended her marathon solo crossing of the Indian Ocean today, having rowed some 4,000 miles.

The intrepid 24-year-old marine biologist has so far netted £10,000 for Arthritis Care during the voyage she undertook in tribute to her late father Derek, who died in 2006, after a life affected by severe rheumatoid arthritis.

A jubilant Sarah crowned her endeavour by pocketing the title of first woman to row the Indian Ocean solo. During her last hours at sea, her boat was escorted by a group of large whales, and Sarah began to see many seabirds as the mountains of Mauritius got bigger.

She confided on her daily seablog that she was looking forward to mango and a massage when she finally arrived on the paradise island. Sarah's Seablog attracted a large global following during her epic journey from Fremantle in Western Australia.

Keeping up the rollercoaster tension of her adventure through the shark and pirate infested ocean, Sarah’s journey culminated in heart-stopping drama. As the young oarswoman negotiated the mountainous waves and perilous currents off the coast of Mauritius, ‘Dippers’ reportedly hit the reef and sustained damage. But Sarah was unhurt and soon reunited with many well-wishers and her Mum, Helen, who flew to Mauritius to greet her inspirational daughter with a ‘big hug.’

She described her perilous approach in to Mauritius and the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment that swept over her as her feet stood once more on terra firma in front of a crowd of hundreds of wellwishers.

'It is a bit hard to take it all in, but I am just chuffed to be back,' she said.

'I did genuinely enjoy it all and marvel at everything that I saw, but hugging my mum and my brother on the jetty was just the most brilliant feeling.'

During almost 4,000 miles of lone and unsupported rowing, Sarah has not seen another human being, although satellite phones and computers have kept her in touch with family in Rutland, weather routers and her growing fan-base – including those recruited through BBC Radio 2’s Radcliffe and Maconie Show, where she has become something of a cult figure as the show’s ‘Indian Ocean correspondent’ and Professor Richard Dawkins, who felt inspired to write a paean about her after hearing of her adventures.

Brutal weather often saw Sarah confined to quarters – a two metre by one metre cabin – for several days at a time, unable to steer or row and at the mercy of the waves. It has also added almost 1,000 extra miles to her journey. On several occasions wind has changed direction and blown her off course, forcing her to re-row previously hard-won miles.

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean, covering 28,350,000 square miles. Its average depth is 12,760 feet (3,890 metres).