Four Friends Rowing Beyond Their Limits

Karla Pound, Ena Ladd, Fiona McTavish and Charlie Smith. Photo supplied by Fiona McTavish

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Four women whose friendship was forged in Airlie Beach are preparing to push themselves well beyond their comfort zones, taking on the mammoth challenge of rowing 4,800 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean.  

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Fiona McTavish, Karla Pnd, Charlie Smith and Ena Ladd first met while living and working together in Airlie Beach more than a decade ago, before careers aboard superyachts, tank boats and expedition vessels eventually scattered the four across Australia and the world.  

Despite the distance, their shared love of the ocean remained, and a few years ago the four decided to reunite around a challenge unlike anything they had attempted before. Becoming the first woman to ever row across the Atlantic Ocean.  

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“I think it was just to push ourselves, you know, trying to get out of our comfort zones that we've all kind of fallen into,” Fiona said.

“And yeah, it seemed like a perfect way to do that.”

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However, with little to no rowing experience between the four, their boat currently stationed in the UK and Charlie and Ena living in Western Australia, there are plenty of challenges to overcome before they even reach the starting line.  

“Actually being able to come together has been pretty scarce,” Fiona said.  

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“None of us are rowers. None of us have ever done any rowing at all in any way, shape, or form.

“But we’re pretty confident that when we are together, we obviously just knuckle down and we all have the same mindset. We’re all working towards the same goals.”

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The four have done a few trips to the UK in an effort to build some team unity, including a practice row in the North Sea, even anchoring themselves overnight.  

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Back in Australia, training continues separately, with Charlie and Ena able to get out on boats in Western Australia, while Fiona’s preparation in Airlie largely consists of rowing machine sessions and strength training in the gym. Karla, meanwhile, balances her training with her work as an expedition leader, travelling to places including Antarctica, Greece and the Kimberley and gaining plenty of time at sea along the way.  

They will start the crossing come December and are expected to finish between six and eight weeks, with the women facing weeks at sea and conditions that could include waves reaching up to 6 metres tall.  

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Beyond the sheer distance and rough seas, the team will also have to contend with some less obvious dangers, including the possibility of marlin striking their boat.

“In the past, some teams have had some marlin strikes on the boat where it’s actually penetrated or gone through the hull,” Fiona said.

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“That’s definitely something that scares me.”

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Through all the obstacles, reaching the other side will be a moment in history, where the inexperienced rowers will become the first women in history to cross the 2nd largest ocean in the world.  

“The all-female aspect is something that we take pride in,” Fiona said.

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“It’s good to see that and give back some sort of inspiration and be kind of a role model to some other females, not just for rowing, but in other aspects of life.

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“Just giving something a try, getting out there and giving stuff a go.”