Anna Fisher Becomes The First Woman To Row Solo Around Hong Kong Island

Anna Fisher recently became the first woman to row solo around Hong Kong Island. Fisher completed the 44 km long Around The Island Race (ATIR) in six hours, 44 minutes and 59 seconds on Sunday, November 15. This was the fourth time that she was competing in the race.

The First Woman To Row Solo Around Hong Kong Island

A 29-year-old Anna Fisher started rowing during her time at university. Notably, as per South China Morning Post, she’s also an accomplished sailor and even represented Hong Kong at the 2018 Asian Games. Sunday’s event marked Fisher’s last ATIR, as she plans to move to France next year. Ben Booth was the first person to row solo in the ATIR last year. Overall, five men have rowed around the island, though not in the race. The two male participants in this year’s race were Andrew Lawson and Jon Davies – both of whom completed the race in lesser time than Fisher.

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Fisher passed the race’s halfway mark after two-and-a-half hours. Thereafter, she faced poor weather conditions and choppy waters. “I was being pushed off course, I had to divert to get around Round Island or I’d be disqualified and by that point my back was done,” Fisher said. She added, “I thought it would be another two and a half hours. I thought that I could sit it out and make it, not knowing it would take another four hours.” However, the thought of her mother’s pride and happiness motivated her to keep going, “When I was at Round Island, I thought, ‘No, I need to get through this for my mum’,” Fisher recalled. She finally completed the race and made history when she reached the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in Causeway Bay more than six hours after starting the race.

What You Should Know: 

• Anna Fisher recently became the first woman to row solo around Hong Kong Island.
• Fisher completed the 44 km long Around The Island Race (ATIR) in six hours, 44 minutes and 59 seconds on Sunday, November 15.
• Despite encountering poor weather conditions and choppy waters, Fisher persevered and kept going to make her mother proud. 
• Post making history, she said, “I hope in the future, a woman who’s really good at rowing will decide to do it solo because I’ve opened the door.”

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Anna Fisher: “I’ve Opened The Door”

Through her participation in the race, Fisher sought to raise money for Ocean Recovery Alliance, a Hong Kong-based plastic pollution charity, and Hero Rats, a charity that trains rats to detect mines in Cambodia.

Fisher admitted that though she feels that she could have completed the race in lesser time, she is nonetheless happy to be the first woman to achieve the feat. She also expressed hope of having paved the way for other women to take up rowing: “I hope in the future, a woman who’s really good at rowing will decide to do it solo because I’ve opened the door.”

Picture Credits: South China Morning Post

Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV