Rachel Flanders, aged 17, has become the youngest person to row across the Atlantic Ocean.  She made it into the record books on Thursday 14 February after finishing the 3,000 mile Woodvale Challenge - the world's toughest rowing race - from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.  Rachel was part of an all-female team of four that made the crossing in 74 days, 1 hour and 3 minutes.

Rachel had started the academic year as a student in Bolton School's Lower Sixth and was allowed time out to undertake her incredible adventure.  Mrs Richards, Headmistress, commented: "Rachel’s parents came to talk to me and I was delighted to give them the unreserved backing of the School.  I think it is an amazing achievement and we are all very proud of her.”

Rachel’s friend, Natalie Dilworth, said: “it all came about really quickly.  She was always into swimming but I thought she only did rowing to keep fit.  Anyway, she applied to be the fourth rower in the all-female team and within a couple of weeks she was signed up to cross the Atlantic.  We are going to have a belated Christmas party for her when she gets back to England.”

Mrs Carter, Rachel’s Form Tutor said: “there’s only so much training you can do for this sort of thing but I know she had some sessions down in our swimming pool with the lights out and people spraying hoses at her to try and simulate Atlantic conditions!  We are all looking forward to seeing Rachel back in school.  At this point we aren’t sure whether Rachel will resume her AS studies for this year or will begin the year again in September.  I know she has her heart set on becoming a doctor and this accomplishment has shown that she has the resolve to achieve whatever she wants.”

Rachel has endured being circled by sharks, seas with 30 foot swells and a serious leak that wiped out half of their food supply.  The punishing regime involved 12 hours worth of rowing per day – in two hours on, two hours off shifts.  It also involved getting into the water and clearing the bottom of the boat of barnacles and other crustaceans, which would, otherwise, have hindered progress.

In an email message sent over the weekend Rachel told friends and teachers that she was doing well with her recovery in Antigua and that she had been back to the boat earlier that day to clear it out and give it a quick clean.  She commented, “I can’t believe that we lived on that for so long!”

After relaxing in her Antiguan hotel she said: “It was great to be in a real bed after so long but it was weird not being with the others and saying good night to them.  Having a shower for the first time was amazing as well.”

The four girl team, known as the Atlantic Angels, have raised a significant amount of money for charity.  You can view more about their adventure by clicking here.