Record breaking rowers return home for Spring Festival

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Four Chinese female rowers return home for Spring Festival after battling sleep deprivation, 40-foot waves and capsizing to break multiple world records rowing the Atlantic.

Tina Liang Mintian, 23, Cloris Chen Yuli, 23, and Amber Li Xiaobing, 22, all from southern Guangdong Province and Sarah Meng Yajie, 23, from central Henan Province, collectively known as Kung Fu Cha Cha, represented China in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – a grueling, 3,000-mile cross-Atlantic race from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua.

The Shantou University students not only set the record for the fastest female crew to row across the Atlantic, shattering a previous record set in 2016 by six days, they were also the youngest and the first Chinese team to ever complete the race dubbed the “world’s toughest row.”

Days out at sea

When asked how long the voyage took, Kung Fu Cha Cha emphatically chorused, “34 days, 13 hours and 13 minutes.”

Clearly still on a high after conquering the Atlantic and going where no Asian team had gone before, the crew told CGTN Digital the results were a shock: “We knew we were the first Chinese team and also the first Asian team and the youngest, but we didn’t expect to be the fastest female team.”

“It was a surprise,” Amber insisted. “We thought about it when we did the race, but when we really realized we could make it was after January. It was like 10 days before we arrived.”

Crossing the finishing line

The race is an unsupported challenge with the team keeping up a brutal alternating schedule of two hours of rowing followed by two hours of sleep.

Despite chronic fatigue and hands adorned with blisters, Kung Fu Cha Cha were spurred on by a bird during the last miles of the race, who had followed them throughout the expedition and guided them to Antigua where they were greeted by friends, family and local Chinese supporters on Jan 18.

“It just happened, you know,” Cloris said. “It was like 10 miles away from Antigua I started counting down," Amber added. "Nine miles to go, eight miles to go, seven miles to go, six miles to go and we are here.”

“We reached the finishing line. They set out flares. We cried and hugged each other. It was like a dream, our dream come true. I kind of miss that time during the row,” Sarah reminisced.

Near-death experience

However, their journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. Midway through the race, the team faced a near disaster.

After a series of waves hit the stern, the journey took a turn for the worse as the three women on deck were thrown into the sea and the boat capsized, leaving only Sarah on board in the cabin.

Unable to stop the water from spilling onto the deck, Kung Fu Cha Cha described how the wave took them by complete surprise: “Within a second, the wave rolled the boat over and we were all in the water.”

“Actually, we don’t know what happened,” Tina laughed. “It was hard for us three to get the balance back. We shouted to Sarah to go back to the other side to balance the boat.”

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Once back on the boat, Kung Fu Cha Cha found it hard to get their bearings. Amber said she was still in shock: “I sat there for 12 minutes and didn’t know what to do. I was struck by sea water when the boat rolled over. I lost my phone and I lost my toothbrush. It was terrible.”

“After five minutes, I started to think. Charlie, our coach, said to me, ‘When everything goes to the bottom, there’s nothing worse that can happen.’ Then I thought, ‘I know what to do now.’”

Empowering the young generation

Kung Fu Cha Cha met their coach, Charlie Pitcher, in 2015 during their first ocean row from Shantou to Hong Kong with their university and have continued to train with him ever since.

Sponsored by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, the team was able to raise money for the charity Teach For China and hope their story can inspire the next generation.

“At this time, all we want to do is share our story and inspire more people,” Cloris said. “Tell them what they can do, to never underestimate themselves," Amber agreed. "They can get a lot of opportunity and have a lot of potential."

Home sweet home

But what’s next for Kung Fu Cha Cha? Although their rowing plans may still be in the making, one thing’s for sure, the women will be celebrating in style during the Spring Festival with their families in the Chinese mainland.

After 34 days of dehydrated food, the team excitedly revealed they will be enjoying the holiday eating lots of “cake, the most important thing.”