Army's first all-female transatlantic crew meet patron Princess Anne at Sandhurst
The British Army's first all-female transatlantic rowing team, who completed their 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Row, have met their patron Princess Anne at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The all-female Force Atlantic crew, which includes Captain Imy O'Brien, Major Rebecca Glover, Captain Sheridan Lucas and Corporal Emma Gibb, successfully completed the race in 46 days and 55 minutes.
The team began their journey in La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 11 December 2024 and arrived at their destination in English Harbour, Antigua on 26 January 2025, all to raise funds for their chosen charity, The Girls' Network.
Speaking to BFBS Sport, Major Rebecca Glover said: "We've all been really surprised how easily we've gone back into day to day in normal life.
"But I've said to a few people today, it feels so surreal that four months ago, we were mid-Atlantic, and now we're just kind of back doing our day jobs.
"It feels really hard to believe that, actually, that's something we've done, and you kind of go back and you see the photos and relive those memories.
"It's just incredible to relive those emotions and think that's actually what we did."
It was officially announced that Princess Anne would be taking on the role as the team's patron in the days leading up to the race start in December.
Alongside their 8.5 metre boat named Rosie, the team of four and some of their support staff were delighted to have the Princess Royal visit them at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Captain Imy O'Brien said: "We are just super grateful that she came and she was present and she gave us her time today.
"Just also the fact that she wants to support us being our royal patron from the beginning, and today to actually kind of seal that, show her what we did and how we did it and have representatives from our charity, it is also a once-in-a-lifetime moment for sure."
The team finished the challenge 18th overall, second among all-female teams, and arrived just hours before their Navy compatriots from HMS Audacious Valkyries.
Capt O'Brien added: "They are great girls (the Valkyries) and it was awesome to have them and actually even have the camaraderie but also the competition.
"They by all means kept us on our toes. At one point, they were one mile behind, and we kept overtaking and undertaking and all that kind of stuff."
But would any of the team members like to take on the World's Toughest Row again?
Captain Sheridan Lucas said: "I really enjoyed it, and the team did, they kind of miss it all the time.
"Well, it was that enjoyable, I would absolutely go back out and do it.
"There were times where you get ups and downs, but we've worked so solidly as a team for the period before the row, we had all the skills that we needed and that's made our friendships just as strong now."
Corporal Emma Gibb added: "Nowadays, we're so quick to be like, 'I want to do this, I want to do that' like a tickbox exercise – actually what has meaning, what's the purpose, what's the bigger picture of it all?
"And I think whatever it is I do next, it needs to have meaning like this, because this is something I've never done before in my life."
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