luxury locations issue 21

FEATURE

TEAM ANTIGUA ISLAND GIRLS SAY CURIOSITY, WILLPOWER AND A SENSE OF ADVENTURE WERE THE IMPETUS BEHIND THEIR MONUMENTAL SECOND OCEAN VOYAGE EAT, SLEEP, ROW – REPEAT O previous competitor likened rowing thousands of miles across the ocean in a boat barely bigger than Photo by Atlantic Campaigns – Penny Bird

then the sea conditions proved who is boss. We learned quickly how to adapt, how to set, reset and manage expectations, and how to stay motivated as individuals and a team. “We’re packing all of the previous experiences into this next row.” What luxury items are you taking – and how do they differ from last time? “Double-ply wipes and a cushioned toilet seat. Sam will likely bring her huge make- up kit so she can get a face beat for arrival. Other than that, the luxury is being able to have such an adventure and to have the support that we have. “The last time, we didn’t have luxury items per se; we had treats—like chocolate bars, granola, dried mango, prunes and peanut butter.” What’s the secret to maintaining harmony with your crewmates in such confined quarters? “To be practical and to be our authentic selves—and to park vanity and anything superfluous. We spent time together before the first row and since, so we know each other—the good sides and the warts. We call each other out when we need to, and galvanise around each other when that’s what’s needed. And that’s the good thing that we have going for us—we’ve had the hard talks, the disagreements, the occasional cold front, and we know that those things don’t break the bond.” What cause are you rowing for this time and how did you choose it? “We wanted a charity that helped to solve a real and present problem. The people at the Family and Social Services Division, in response to our probing, presented us with a list of things that they need. A home for

a bathtub to a toothpick being roiled in a washing machine. On top of the relentless physical toil of battling waves that can be 30ft high, rowers can also expect seasickness, mind-numbing boredom, hallucinations from lack of sleep, and persistent abuse from the blistering sun. So what could possibly convince a group of women who had already experienced all of that first-hand to do it again? In January 2019, Kevinia Francis, Samara Emmanuel, Elvira Bell and Christal Clashing made history by becoming the first all-Black team in the world to row across an ocean and the first all-female group to do so representing the Caribbean. Their journey, as part of the annual Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge which runs from the Canary Islands to Antigua, took a gruelling 47 days, eight hours and 25 minutes. In late May, three of the audacious trailblazers departed their native Antigua to head for Monterey Bay, California. Their mission? To compete in the inaugural edition of the Pacific Challenge – 2,800 miles of ocean from the west coast of the US all the way to Kauai in Hawaii. Luxury Locations Magazine caught up with boat captain Samara, personal fitness instructor Kevinia, and adventure guide and student Christal shortly before they left to hear more about their latest monumental undertaking. First things first, how have your lives changed since your record-breaking, history-making Atlantic voyage four years ago? “Elvira got married; Christal wrote a book, launched a short film, and went back to school; Sam got a promotion; and Kevinia

started working with Atlantic Campaigns [the company that runs both races] as a finish officer. Otherwise, we fell back into our lives.” What inspired you to do it again? “Curiosity, excitement, and a sense of adventure propelled us to enter the Pacific Challenge. We also had encouragement from seafarers. Our thought process was that we have an ocean-crossing under our belts, we have the willpower, and we were excited that this is a new initiative and we could get to be a part of the first cohort. It gives us another opportunity to represent our country and to give back to our community.” What did you learn from the last challenge that will set you in good stead for this one? “One the most important things we have learned is that we are subordinate to nature and the sea. Looking back at our first time, we can say with a laugh that we were, as they say locally, full of chat. “We were going to end in X amount of days, we were going to break records, and

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Photo: Seas Drake

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