Record-breaking rower to reach home soil
Eliza Spencer |
Australian endurance rower Michelle Lee will arrive in Cairns on Monday morning after spending 238 days at sea.
The solo seafarer has traversed more than 14,000 kilometres on her journey to Queensland’s far north, rowing from the coast of Ensenada in Mexico.
The months-long expedition has taken Ms Lee through the paths of five hurricanes and four cyclones, including the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle.
“My patience has been tried and tested, I’m ready to land. I’m just dreaming of stepping on land,” she said.
“I expect it will take me a week to become a socially acceptable human again.”
The mammoth feat is not the first for Ms Lee, a 50-year-old massage therapist from Sydney’s northwest. In 2018, she became the first Australian woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
The achievement led to her being named the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
Throughout her journey, Ms Lee has shared regular dispatches from her 7.7-metre carbon fibre vessel, the Australian Maid. Recent updates detail the awe of rowing alongside schools of fish approaching the Great Barrier Reef, finding a handbag and wattle branch lost at sea, and a particular craving for a traditional Devonshire Tea with all the trimmings.
Scones, fresh cream and a hot cup of tea are not far away for Ms Lee, who is already planning her first few meals on land.
“A stack of pancakes is going to be so amazing, as is a bunch of celery, some chopped capsicum and cucumber,” she said.
Moored at the entrance to the Great Barrier Reef, Ms Lee is awaiting confirmation of the safest passage for her ocean-going vessel to traverse the reef safely.
“When my team are confident with a strategy I will be off again, rowing my butt off to make landfall,” she wrote.
The Australian Maid will carry Ms Lee safely to the Cairns Marlin Marina, where crowds expect to welcome her home about 9am local time.
AAP
