BIOGRAPHY

Debra Searle was hailed a sporting heroine when she became only the fourth woman in the world to row solo across the Atlantic. That wasn't the original idea. She had set off with her husband, an international oarsman, but he developed an uncontrollable fear of the ocean and she decided to continue the journey alone.

Debra was considered the weakest competitor in the Atlantic Rowing Race. She was a gold medallist in dragon-boat racing, but had never seriously rowed before. She was scared of deep water, the dark and sharks, and she is physically rather small. Sceptics gave her two days at most.

In a 23' plywood boat, Debra dodged tankers and battled against 30' waves and force 8 squalls, though the biggest challenge was solitude. Nonetheless she dared to believe she could make it, and 112 days later Debra rowed into Port St Charles, Barbados to a rapturous welcome.

Debra's positive attitude is contagious, especially as it's combined with real modesty. She shows how to build confidence by visualising a series of small goals, and how to draw from reserves of self-belief even in the face of extreme hardship. Her aim is to leave audiences believing they too can achieve targets that once seemed out of reach.

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