A MEMBER of staff at an Oxford school who became the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean inspired her former pupils with herseafaring adventures.

Sarah Outen, who worked as a classroom assistant at St Edward’s School, in Woodstock Road, showcased her boat and its battle scars at the school last night, telling pupils remarkable tales of her 124 days at sea.

The 24-year-old Oxford University graduate covered 4,000 miles in her boat Serendipity, which is still covered in good luck messages, written by well-wishers, earlier this year.

The Oxford graduate touched dry land in Mauritius on August 3, but not before she was almost drowned by a freak wave which caught the boat, rolling it three times just 50 metres from the shore.

Miss Outen, who has raised £26,000 for Arthritis Care in memory of her father who died in 2006, said: “It’s great to be back and to show the kids that anything is possible.”

And she had the following advice to pupils: “If you have a dream, however unrealistic it seems, just keep focused on your goal. Whatever other people say to you, you must have self belief, and focus on the end product.”

Giving a public lecture at the school’s North Wall Arts Centre in aid of the arthritis charity, Miss Outen shared the highs and lows of her groundbreaking voyage.

She said: “At sea, you are so close to everything going on around you. You are just a spectator to that 360 degree show of sunrise, sunset and the changing moods of the sea; it’s a wonderful experience.

“I’ve seen things most people will never see in their life. I’ve sailed one sixth of the way around the world. I’ve crossed an ocean. But I’ve also survived my dad Derek Outen’s death, which completely rocked my world.”

Speaking of the moment, close to the finish, where she almost died, she said: “I thought it was ironic that I’d crossed 4,000 miles of ocean and was about to die just round the corner from where my folks were. I was terrified.”

Pupil Callum Jones, who holds the world record for rowing 2,000 metres on a rowing machine, was so inspired by Miss Outen that he is already planning a rowing challenge across the English Channel next summer.

The 14-year-old, a boarder at the school, said: “She is really inspirational in getting the idea in the first place, managing to do it, and having the will power to keep going when it got hard.”

School prefect Imogen Mansfield, 17, from Henley, said: “It seemed a daunting thing to do. Sarah must be proud of herself for completing it. It was a long way and she rowed to the extreme.”

Pupil Nicola Mason, 16, agreed, adding: “She is really brave. It’s something so unique. I don’t think I could do it – not on my own.”