Sarah Outen

in a nutshell

Sarah Outen, recent Biology graduate of St Hugh’s College, Oxford University. Keen sportswoman on and off the water, loves adventure, wildlife and the outdoors. Boats or in boots, give me mountains or water and I am at my happiest – especially if I can take my dog, Bonnie, along too.
Hate being overtaken, love going fast under my own steam. Sometimes bald – thank you Alopecia, but currently the noggin is fluffy.

the younger years

My brothers and I were brought up on a diet of exercise, fresh air, and delicious home cooking, so exploring and expeditioning has been an intrinsic part of me since the year dot.

I had Tomboy written all over me as a child: anything involving racing around like a lunatic or hanging upside down seemed like heaven – tree-climbing, cycling, running and exploring. It was only in my teens that I took an interest in the water.

Through school sports dominated my time out of the classroom-both for school teams and club and county. I learned to kayak and sailing cropped up every now and then but there was, from about 14 years old, a yearning to row. Seeing the famous GB Men’s 4 on TV, storming down a rowing lake in perfect time with an immense combination of power and speed, I was sure I wanted rowing to be my sport once I got to University. Some things you just know.

the Oxford years 2004-7

Dominated by biology and rowing, these were great times in the city of dreaming spires. Happy days indeed. It was here I decided that one day I would row an ocean, and that my first would be the Indian. All was well until Dad died very suddenly just before part-Finals in my second year. I spent my final year generally trying to piece my life back to something coherent again and planning my ocean row. I’m still working on both fronts – my crazy grief road isn’t over yet.

highlights & lowlights

– important bits from the last few years

I spent my University summer holidays sailing in the Hebrides with Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust conducting marine mammal and seabird surveys, using it as a base for my dissertation research into basking sharks.

I rowed with my college 1st VIII, captaining them to ‘blades’ in Oxford University Torpids and Summer Eights and racing successfully in externals, too. I was lucky enough to row with the University crews in the Development Squad of 2006. Dad’s untimely death just before we were due to row at Henley changed my focus – it was all about surviving. At this point I decided to go solo across the ocean.

2006 was the Year of Baldilocks : half my hair fell out so I shaved my head. Liberating and exciting, if not slightly chilly.

Training, preparation and fundraising started in 2007 – I gained various sea related qualifications, ran the London Marathon, the Reading Half Marathon (Conclusion: Happy days but I am not built for long distance running!) and I crewed with Geoff Holt’s Round Britain Sailing Challenge as he became the 1st disabled person to circumnavigate GB. I also graduated from St Hugh’s College, Oxford with a degree in biology and ventured out into the world of work – at St Edward’s School, Oxford.

2008 so far has seen lots of kayaking, and theDevizes to Westminster Race in March: a 125 mile endurance paddling event. Placed 2nd in Solo Female class. A canoeing expedition on the Tay in Scotland and an ocean passage across the North Atlantic from Iceland back to Plymouth. Not in a canoe this time – a 55 ft yacht.

Preparation for the row is ongoing- logistical, financial, technical and physical. I’m racking up miles on the water and in the gym with training expeditions and sea trials in the build up to 2009.

…and when I grow up?
Tricky one-answer unknown. Something where I can combine my love of wildlife and the outdoors with teaching, perhaps.