Debra Searle

Debra Louise Searle is a British adventurer. Searle rowed across the Atlantic in 2002 alone after her then husband and rowing partner, Andrew Veal became overwhelmed by the ocean.

Early life and education

Searle has an identical twin sister called Hayley Barnard.

Sport

Atlantic Rowing Race

Searle and her then husband Andrew Veal attempted to row across the Atlantic in the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Race during 2001–2002. Her husband was forced to retire from the race after eight days after becoming mentally overwhelmed by the ocean and had to return to land. Debra Searle continued alone, arriving in Barbados after 111 days at sea. Ben Fogle, the adventurer and TV presenter who rowed the Atlantic with James Cracknell in 2005 claimed to have been inspired by Searle's crossing in his book The Crossing, written with James Cracknell.

Other

In 2007, she captained a Dragon Boat across the English Channel.

Personal life

Searle was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2002 Birthday Honours. She was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2014 New Year Honours for her work for the Royal Family and as a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.