Royal Navy rower's world record attempt in solo circumnavigation of Robben Island
Royal Navy officer Lieutenant Hayla Westhead has made history by becoming the first female rower to complete a historic solo circumnavigation of Robben Island in a single scull.
She completed the 31km open-water row at the Freedom Paddle event in Cape Town, South Africa, which is now currently under review as a potential new Guinness World Record.
Lt Westhead, who is a gold medalist at both the World Masters Rowing Championships and the South Africa National Rowing Championships, accomplished this feat just 11 months after giving birth.
Speaking to NAVTfit, she said: "This is more than just completing the row. It was about pushing limits, rebuilding strength after motherhood, and proving what is possible with the right mindset and preparation."
Leaning on her international competitive experience in rowing, as well as representing the Royal Navy Rowing Association at Joint Services Regattas, Lt Westhead underwent months of targeted training to build up the physical and mental fitness required for sustained open-water rowing.
Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its maximum-security prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, provides demanding sea conditions with an unpredictable western tide, strong currents, and swells that exceed three metres in height.
"At times it was just me and the ocean," Lt Westhead said.
"There were moments where the conditions were genuinely intimidating, but I focused on staying calm and moving forward one stroke at a time."
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