British adventurer Sarah Outen, 25, has embarked on a 20,000-mile trip around the globe in which she will use only man-power.
Her solo trip started on April 1 at Tower Bridge, London, and is expected to take two-and-a-half years to complete. She will follow a route across land and sea which will see her cross three continents and row solo across the North Pacific and North Atlantic Ocean’s, travelling only by kayak, bicycle and rowing boat.
Outen will be the first women to row solo across the North Pacific, a feat achieved before by only two men. She is also the first person to row this combination of oceans in a single journey.
She says: “We’ve such a rich heritage of pioneers, mariners and ground breaking expeditions from the UK – so I’m proud to be flying the flag. It’s cool to be spreading the word that women do crazy expeditions too – there are a lot of beards in this field!”
She added: “I am full of adrenaline right now – 90% excitement, 10% nerves. The roads are the scary bits – there’s a real possibility of being knocked from the bike at any time, or squashed by a truck, so I need to stay focused.”
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During her dangerous record breaking endeavour she will not come home between legs, although family member are hoping to visit her at various points during her trip.
Outen will be carrying high tech equipment which will enable her to blog weekly from anywhere in the world and talk to schools around the globe.
In 2009, aged 24, Outen, became the first women and youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean. She has been described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as ‘an adventurer and expeditioner second to none’. He said: ”Sarah Outen has already demonstrated her skill and determination in her record breaking row across the Indian Ocean. London to London via The World is a significantly greater challenge. She will face dangers on a daily basis which only the hardiest could tolerate.”
Outen set of from Tower Bridge, London on April 1s in her kayak Nelson paddling down the Thames, across the Channel before cycling on her bike Hercules 7,000 miles through France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and then back into Russia.
Sarah will make the crossing to Japan via the remote island of Sakhalin, using Nelson and Hercules to paddle and cycle her way to Japan. When she reaches Japan, Sarah will have traveled 8,000 miles since leaving London. She will then row solo across 5000 miles of the North Pacific in her tiny boat Gulliver, take up Hercules saddle again and cycle from Vancouver to New York, then row solo home across the North Atlantic.
You can track Sarah’s journey here
Bethan Borrett, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
