RENDEZVOUS
>>
“It was much more about the mental challenge, and about the correct frame of mind than physical fitness and endurance.”
says Sarah, who broke a number of records during her endeavour.
“I was the youngest woman to row across any ocean, the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean and the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean.” says Sarah.
Her feat would involve rowing for 124 days, trying to maintain a ‘normal’ routine of resting at night and rowing during the day. With no support boat and no other people for literally thousands of miles around, Sarah would make the most of windows of good weather and row for up to 12 hours a day, with continuous strokes for an hour or two and a few minutes rest in-between for a drink.
“Strangely, loneliness wasn’t a challenge.” she says. “And anything that could compromise your sense of self-belief has to be beaten. I had audio books, my iPod and would keep busy by doing things like my laundry and updating my blog.”
There were, of course, low parts to the trip, not least the first of five occasions when she capsized.
“It was a massive wake-up call the first time it happened.” she says.
“I knew I wanted to take a year out before deciding what to do next.” says Sarah. I anticipated a year of speaking engagements or teaching, but the question everyone kept asking was ‘what happens next?’”
It was a question I was asking myself, but when I was giving a talk at Windsor Castle, and Prince Edward asked me the question I replied, almost on impulse ‘I don’t know, 2011, 2012?’ That set the wheels in motion for London 2 London Via the World.”
Sarah’s current challenge is to complete a lap of the planet using only human power - that means rowing oceans, cycling continents and kayaking the remaining blue bits in between.
The epic journey will support four of Sarah’s favourite charities, raising £100,000, or £1 for each charity for every mile of the journey.
Sarah’s current challenge is to complete a lap of the planet using only human power - that means rowing oceans, cycling continents and kayaking the remaining blue bits in between...
“With nobody around you, you realise just how lucky you are to be alive after the boat rights itself and it’s over. Life is very short and very previous, and with nobody around to talk to about it, you have plenty of time to dwell on the fact.”
“Still you have to rationalise your fear. You can’t ignore it, but it’s like talking to a child. We all shy away from doing things that scare us, but you have to acknowledge fear and rationalise it.”
Sarah describes the moment she returned from her 2009 voyage in remarkably restrained terms. It was, she says, a sense of achievement, tinged with a feeling that she’ll miss the boat, which she described as more of a team member than an object, and worry about being around people again, having spend so long in her own company.
CoppaFeel! was set up by Sarah’s friend Kristin Hallenga and aims to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women, whilst following a diagnosis of breast cancer aged just 23. Sarah is also supporting WaterAid, the charity that aims to bring fresh water and sanitation to third world countries.
“Fresh water is everything.” says Sarah. “I quickly realised that whilst I was at sea. “It’s inconceivable that people in
this world take for granted a resource that is, in other countries, so rare and that means the difference between life and death, so the work that Water Aid does is crucial.”
Sarah’s other charities include the MND Association which funds and promotes research into Motor Neurone Disorder. “One of my friends is dying from the disease - he’s optimistic that, one day, there will be a cure, but funding continued research is really important.” she says.
Sarah is also supporting the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which provides adventure sailing holidays for both able-bodied and disabled people; Sarah is the charity’s Vice-Patron.
Sarah set off in April 2011, and but for the interruption by Tropical Storm Mawar, she would still be completing the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132