AUP Alumna Camilla Bull â14 (BA, Global Communications and Marketing) is a member of the first Norwegian female crew to row the Atlantic, breaking the European record for women to cross the Atlantic.
The âRowegians,â as they dubbed themselves, took part in the annual Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge â also known as âThe Worldâs Toughest Row.â The 3000-mile route begins at San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands to Nelsonâs Dockyard English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda. This yearâs race began December 14, 2017 and finished in Antigua on January 19, 2018.
The four women were raising money for Right To Play (RTP), an education charity that works with civil society actors, national and local education authorities and teachers from target schools to use the power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. On the teamâs website, they emphasize RTPâs work in Ethiopia, where the drop-out rate for secondary education is significantly higher for girls than for boys.
Donât take any shortcuts. Make sure your team functions well. Focus on teamwork. Be tolerant and large towards each other, but make sure youâre all aware of your main goal and stick to it. Mental training is as important as physical training. Be humble towards the conditions of âMother Natureâ and last, but not least, remember why youâre doing it
There is a lot to learn from an experience like this. âBe well prepared,â Bull said. âDonât take any shortcuts. Make sure your team functions well. Focus on teamwork. Be tolerant and large towards each other, but make sure youâre all aware of your main goal and stick to it. Mental training is as important as physical training. Be humble towards the conditions of âMother Natureâ and last, but not least, remember why youâre doing it.â
Camilla Bull (Image/Rowegians)
Bull now works as Commercial Advisor at Brand Studio in Norway. Before coming to AUP, she served in the Royal Norwegian Navy as Sergeant, Instructor, EOD Operator and Diver and was also a contestant in 71 Degrees North, an adventure gameshow taking place in remote parts of northern Norway.
The team finished eighth of thirty and was the second female team to finish. They documented their incredible journey on social media. You can follow their adventures on ÌęČčČÔ»ć .Ìę
âI feel very relieved because we had a safe crossing and we all remained friends. Apart from that I feel quite normal. Itâs fascinating how fast everything gets back to normal life. I am, however, thinking about my next adventure which would have to be something skiing-related,â Bull said after this incredible journey.
The slogan for the trip was striking: âOnly 6 Norwegians have successfully rowed the Atlantic to date. They were all men.â Bull and her crew not only changed the status quo, but they accomplished something for the record books.