This Brave New Hampshire Woman Just Became the First Woman to Row the Atlantic Dash Solo

I can barely stand being in deep water for a few minutes without imagining everything that could go wrong (hello, SHARKS!), so the idea of someone willingly rowing alone across the Atlantic Ocean... No safety boat. No people nearby. Just endless water and your own thoughts for more than two months.

I honestly think I’d spiral into a full-blown anxiety attack!

That’s why Renee Blacken’s story of rowing in the Atlantic Dash is such a remarkable one.

What Is the Atlantic Dash?

According to its website, the Atlantic Dash is one of the world's toughest endurance events, where people row 3,200 miles across the Atlantic.

It's not a race, but the ultimate experience of rowing across the open ocean.

Oh, and Renee set a new record for it.

New Hampshire's Renee Blacken Is the First Woman to Row the Atlantic Dash Solo

Renee's mental strength is on an entirely different level. She wasn’t just battling waves or exhaustion; she was learning how to trust herself in complete isolation. Most people never have to confront fear that directly, especially in a place as unpredictable and intimidating as the open ocean.

That's right, Renee rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Outdoor Adventuring for Good said that Renne rowed for over 60 days, from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean. And it was all completely alone, without a motor or sail.

What stands out to me most is that she kept going despite the obstacles. Even with the silence, the uncertainty, and the sheer loneliness of being surrounded by nothing but water, she managed to push forward.

She also made history as the first woman to complete the Atlantic Dash solo. Amazing!

I can’t imagine the courage it takes to wake up every day in the middle of the ocean and keep rowing.

This wasn't just a personal journey for the woman from Bethlehem, New Hampshire, either.

According to WCAX3, "Blacken raised more than $20,000 for her nonprofit Outdoor Adventuring for Good, which aims to raise awareness and funding for trauma recovery that integrates mind and body healing."

Not only did she overcome something most of us would never dare attempt, but she also raised funds for a nonprofit. Talk about an inspiration.

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By the time Renee reached land, it seemed like the real victory wasn’t just crossing the ocean. It was discovering that she could depend on herself in the most extreme conditions imaginable. For someone like me, who fears the ocean so deeply, that kind of confidence feels almost superhuman.

Still, her story proves that resilience and perseverance can take ordinary people to extraordinary places... something we can all learn from!