Debra Veal was 27 years old when she rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean from Tenerife to Barbados, a journey of 4,768 km over 113 days, facing hurricanes, sharks, and loneliness. Polly Vacher, at 57 years old, flew solo around the world in a small one-engine airplane for 46,670 km over 124 days, encountering hurricanes, engine problems, and an out of fuel emergency landing.

1. STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE TASKS
BEFORE SEEING THIS ANSWER KEY
TASK 2
I.
Reading the article Going it alone. Complete the section on the left of the
chart with information about Debra Veal and her journey.
age
Debra Veal
27 years old
travelled in
A boat
left
Tenerife on 7 October 2001
arrived
in Barbados on 26 January
2002
4,768 km
length of
journey
number of
days
113
Problems
Hurricanes, sharks, loneliness

2. II.
Read the article Going it alone again. What do these phrases refer to?
1. Four years
The Veals trained for the race.
2. Eight days
Debra Veal’s husband began to have panic attacks
3. Fifteen
years
Debra Veal’s husband, a top rower with fifteen years’
experience
4. 5.30
Debra Veal started rowing
5. Every hour
Debra Veal woke every hour to check for supertankers.
6. Six meters
A wave six meters high turned Debra Veal’s boat over.
7. 4000$
The telephone bill

3. After listening, complete the section on the right of the chart with information
about Polly Vacher and her journey.
age
Polly Vacher
57 years old
travelled in
A small one-engine aeroplane
left
Birmingham Airport on 12
January 2002
At Birmingham Airport on 17
May 2002
46,670 km
arrived
length of
journey
number of
days
124
Problems
Hurricanes, engine problems,
plane ran out of fuel