Montrealer Mylene Paquette says she's become the first North American woman to row, alone, across the Atlantic Ocean, after arriving in France late Tuesday.
After a 5,000 kilometre journey that started in Halifax 129 days earlier, Paquette, 35, arrived in Lorient, France.
She told CTV News there were times during her journey when she feared the worst.
"There were many moments I thought I risked my life," she said over Skype.
During the journey, Paquette reported that her boat capsized twice during a storm that generated eight-metre waves.
After encountering tropical storm Humberto, she had to have supplies floated out to her during a chance meeting with a large ocean liner.
On her blog, she wrote that she lost some of her supplies during the ordeal and an iPhone and satellite phone were damaged.
She's said the main objective of her journey was to raise awareness about the fragility of the ocean's ecosystems.
Paquette's coach, former Olympic canoeist Maxime Boilard, said the journey was exhausting both physically and psychologically for Paquette.
He said her determination is key to her success. "There's something in her that needs to go to the extreme," he said.
She has inspired many, who have followed her progress during her trek, he added.
"Deep down, I think, we're all crossing something. So the symbolism of Mylene's adventure, it resonates with so many people," Boilard said.
Paquette had previously crossed the Atlantic, travelling from Barbados to Morocco, as part of a six-person crew in 2010.
With files from The Canadian Press
