In my ocean rowing boat, Serendipity (6m x 1.6m), I will head East to West over 3,100 miles as the crow flies. Leaving from the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Fremantle, after the cyclone season in 2009 I will row across the Indian Ocean from Fremantle, SW Australia, day and night ( in between sun-cream sloshing and chocolate breaks) until I reach Mauritius, a few months later.
past indian ocean rows
Anders Svedland was the first to solo the Indian Ocean back in 1971 – he went from Oz to Madagascar. On his second attempt, in 2003, Simon Chalk made it across in 107 days and then Ukrainian, Pavel Rezvoy rowed a slightly different route from Keeling Island, Aus, to Mahe in the Seychelles in 2005. John Williams in 2007, continued alone after his team mate Glenn Edwards was picked up part way through. No woman has ever attempted it.
record attempt: a first
Forty six women have successful ocean rowing crossings to their name; just seven are soloists. My attempt will be a record-breaking one as I bid to become the first woman, and the youngest and fastest person to row this ocean alone. New route too – no one has made it to Mauritius yet, and no one has left from Freo’.
(see oceanrowing.com for statistics)
training
I need to know how to fix myself and the equipment when things go wrong; how to stay out of trouble; get across in one piece and be happy that I am ready for anything.
body In the gym, on bikes, in boats and my two feet. Strength and endurance are the main focusses, with alot of cross-training. I completed the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster kayaking marathon in March 08, and am now turning my attention to clocking up sculling miles and prepare myself for rowing up to 12 hours a day.
mind Not to be underestimated-I have heard ocean rowers say it is 99% psychological getting across an ocean, the body will just follow. Working with Oxford-based sports psychotherapist Dr Briony Nicholls to work out some tactics for dealing with the craziness at sea.
technical I am determined not to set off from Oz until I know the ins and outs of my electrics, until I am confident I could stitch my finger back on, can fix anything that might go wrong and rely on myself to make it to Mauritius in one piece. Au fait with ocean meteorology, the Rule of the Road and with many more sea miles both on sailing and rowing boats, including a yacht passage across the North Atlantic Ocean (Iceland to UK, August ‘08).
sea trials Various trips are planned for the run up to 2009: locally on Rutland Water, down on the South coast, and hopefully in Scottish Hebridean waters, too (my favourite place in the world). We will row enough miles together to be sure that I am confident with handling and maintaining her in all seas. Most important trial will be the capsize drill and Sarah-overboard. Ocean passage on a small yacht from Iceland to the UK in August ‘08 was a vital piece of training, as was the Gran Canaria rowing training with ocean rower Gabor Raconzwai in April ‘08.
prepare & believe
If you’re strong up-top and have prepared well, then you have the best chance – stubborn and strong, and with a bit of luck you’ll weather the worst of the storms.