Reflections of a salty rower

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Sarah Outen became the first woman and youngest person ever to solo row across the Indian Ocean earlier this year. Here she reflects back on her extraordinary adventure and shares a video that really gives us a glimpse of her days in the boat.

As 2009 now comes close to its end, I hit ‘rewind’ and reflect on my spring and summer this year. Not the most outlandish thing to do perhaps, but the period in question was about as far from land and normal life as I have ever been. I was out on the open ocean in my little boat and rowing solo from Australia to Mauritius, across the Indian Ocean.

It took one failed attempt, two broken oars, 124 days, 4,000 miles and 500 bars of chocolate to get there.

The big blue

I love rowing and I love the oceans, so the combination struck me as perfect. I dedicated the row to my Dad’s memory after his sudden death in 2006, and set about raising lots of money for arthritis charities.

Ye olde training

It’s all about mental toughness. I completed various endurance ultra marathon events, sailed across the North Atlantic, spent hours on the rowing machine and lifting big weights in the gym. Core stability and strength were key to minimising injury and there was lots of technical training, too - learning how to navigate, fix the boat and stitch myself up.

The open ocean

Life out there is beautiful, raw and elemental. It is tough and relentless, and to survive you need to be the same, always remembering that nothing lasts forever and that bad weather will eventually blow through and lead to sunshine and flat seas. I love the changing nature of the sea and its energy; the way it drains, scares, soothes, excites, wows and heals.

Alone, not lonely

I was never lonely and talked to the birds and my little crew of Pilot fish, nicknamed ‘The Tweedles’. They swam alongside my boat for most of the journey.

Every day I would blog up to my website and generally rang home once a week.

Tough stuff

The middle sector of the journey was really very tough. The weather was unstable and rough and I spent days stuck in my 6ft cabin, drifting backwards on my sea anchor, losing miles towards Australia. One week I was blown backwards an entire degree of longitude, which I then had to re-row. Shifting the short-term goals and yet never losing sight of how far I had already come was a real focus, but challenging too. I became very good at prioritising and would make a list of ‘Good things about today’ in a bid to focus on the positives.

When I was struggling physically and was tired, wet and sore, I remembered Dad’s spirit and courage in facing up to his arthritis. He was a real motivator.

Even so, towards the end I was getting tired both physically and mentally, so it became a survival game and I would visualise every task before I carried it out, particularly when the weather was rough. There is no room for error when you are all alone.

Happy days

My wildlife encounters top my ‘Special Moments’ and really embody the meaning of my boat’s name, Serendipity. I had whales, dolphins, albatrosses and lots of different fish visit. Swimming in that beautiful blue was a wonderful feeling, too, gazing into the unfathomable depths, wondering what lay below.

My birthday on Day 56 was also very special - I had saved a whole tin of peaches especially, so was very chuffed with myself.

Land Ahoy!

At 0840 on August 3^rd, I sighted land for the first time in 124 days and I was ecstatic, yet very mindful of the fact that a safe landing would be tricky. The coastal shelf is very steep and creates big, steep waves.

Later that day, I stepped ashore to some of the most special hugs, but it was only after a very dramatic landing and rescue from the coral reef. I was so happy to be alive and to have made it to the other side.

Re-entry syndrome

The couple of months since landing have been busy and confusing, full of rollercoastering emotions. It is like being a hormonal teenager once more and I’m reckoning on another couple of months before I feel normalised again. Life on the boat was so simple – life on land soon swallows you up into deadlines and meetings and busy stuff!

And finally…

There are plans afoot for further expeditions, focussing on oceans of a different kind; I have adventure charging through my veins and cannot ignore it. I have tasted life in the wild and I love it.

Sarah Outen, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

About Sarah

24 year old Sarah Outen recently became the first woman and youngest person ever to row solo across the Indian Ocean, as well as the youngest of only 8 women to solo row any ocean. She has raised nearly £30,000 for arthritis charities through her efforts and is now touring the country giving talks, while also writing a book about the voyage. She graduated from Oxford University in 2007, where she first learned to row.

For more information visit: www.sarahouten.co.uk

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