A WOMAN who has completed a 238km row on the other side of the world has described the challenge as “one of the most extreme things I’ve ever done”.

Linda Greig swapped the waters off the coast of her Dunbar home for the waters off Tasmania as part of the Tawe Nunnugah Raid.

The supply teacher was one of seven people from across Britain who travelled to the other side of the world for the historic event.

Linda, of Dunbar, told the Courier she was still adjusting to being back on dry land and was pleased to say she had smashed her fundraising target for the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre.

She said: “I have returned safely from the TN17 boat expedition having completed a row of 238km.

“I have just caught up with sleep now.

“There were tough seas, calm hot days with heat exhaustion, steep learning curves, sea eagles and dolphins, and many excited communities cheering us on as we passed through.

“The people of Tasmania were always warm and inviting and it was fantastic to have spent time with people in the south seas with such boat expertise and coordinating the raid of wooden boats, many like our St Ayles skiffs, built by their owners.

“Our chief command Martin Riddle previously ran scientific expeditions to the Antarctic, so we were pushed and encouraged in equal measure, facing some big breaking swell, but our Scottish coastal rowing St Ayles skiffs handled beautifully!

“A few boats capsized on the first day, but safe to say, the rowers and the safety team stayed mainly dry.

“We rowed alongside the tall ships in the parade of sail starting the wooden boat festival and were cheered by thousands as our small boats – and a very dirty crew at this stage – sang a sea shanty for the crowds watching us dock in the harbour in the city of Hobart as part of a spectacular array of hundreds of boats.”

Linda, who works as a supply teacher with children with complex needs and as a care worker at Florabank Home, in Haddington, had first become involved with coastal rowing while helping build a rowing boat in Fife.

However, it was only when she moved to East Lothian three years ago that she got a taste for the sea.

She previously told the Courier that she had spotted a pod of dolphins on her first row and had been “an avid rower ever since”.

Linda thanked everyone who had made a donation, which saw her pass her fundraising target of £2,000.

She has collected more than £2,500 and said: “I am incredibly proud of the generosity of the community here in Dunbar and so many friends beyond who have made the fundraising such a success so far.

“The work supporting survivors in East Lothian goes on and the generosity of funds donated stands as a tribute to how many people are in need of such an invaluable service in East Lothian and the incredible team from Rape Crisis, who strive every day to be there to support survivors to do just that: survive and advocate change.”

“If people need support they can contact the service for support as follows.”

To make a donation, go to mydonate.bt.com/fundrais ers/rowraidforrapecrisis