Exactly five years ago today, January 28th 2024, four women of colour, representing Antigua and Barbuda made history as the first all-women team and first African women to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic ocean.

Elvira Bell, Christal Clashing, Kevinia Francis, Samara Emmanuel and their skipper Junella King decided to venture where many, many men would be hesitate. Their goal was to inspire girls to achieve success in spite of challenges.

Again, the four ladies are specialists in different fields. One is a fitness trainer, another is a boat master, the third is a paddling instructor and Olympian while the fourth Antiguan team member is a martial artist and swimming instructor. Phew! What an amazing group of women.

That trip took those brave women 47 days. We do not want to think about the nights. The women deserve a statue in their honour. They rowed three thousand miles, people! And those women had no cat fights?! Worked together for over a month?! They need to write a book. Individual books, if they have not written one already.

The length of time it took to strategize and put everything together to embark on that adventurous, life-changing journey is award-winning in itself.

Finally last year, in June 2023, the champions broke another record. They rowed across the Pacific. It was called The World’s Toughest Row. The duration was less. A little over 41 days to reach the finishing line. Again, we do not want to think of the nights at sea or its inhabitants.

At this point, let us call them conquerors. These amazons have conquered many fears, myths and limitations. By defeating the ocean a second time, it shows the Atlantic journey was not a fluke.

Can we drop a heart in the comments section for the support team behind these special women? We are so proud of them.

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