Successfully rowing across Atlantic Ocean

On Tuesday, November 12, Mylène Paquette, 35, became the first North American to row solo, from west to east, across the Atlantic – a trip about 2,700 nautical miles in length. The Montrealer successfully completed her trip at 11:09 a.m. local time in France (5:09 a.m. Eastern Time) when she reached l’île d’Ouessant, which is located about 60 nautical miles from the French port of Lorient. She had been at sea for 129 days, leaving Halifax on July 6 in a specially designed 7.3-metre boat propelled only by Paquette and the currents.

In September, the rower got a helping hand from the world’s largest ocean liner – the Queen Mary 2. Paquette capsized and lost some key items, including her anchor, iPhone and satellite phone, after she was hit by the remnants of Hurricane Humberto. The Queen Mary 2 received her call for assistance and agreed to help out the young rower. The crew donated food and supplies, including a new satellite phone and two anchors.

Paquette had been part of a six-person crew that rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 2011.