Adventurers of the Year Update: Roz Savage Reflects on Rowing Her Third Ocean

By Samantha Cook; photograph courtesy Roz Savage

Last year, Roz Savage, 43, was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year for rowing solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Impressive enough as that was, Savage wasn't ready to retire her oars. On October 4th of this year, she completed her goal to row the Indian Ocean.

Adventure: Why go for a third ocean?
Roz Savage: Seven years ago I set out to row the world’s “Big Three” oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. After having spent 11 years of my adult life working in an office, I had woken up to the fact that I was doing a job I didn’t like to buy stuff I didn’t need. Around that same time I had an environmental epiphany, realizing that if we carry on treating the Earth as we do now, we are going to face a very bleak future. So I decided to take a new life course, rowing across oceans and using my adventures as a way to raise consciousness and inspire action on environmental issues.

A: What route did you take for this row?
R.S.: Originally I was going to row from Australia to India, but due to the rapid escalation in pirate activity in the Indian Ocean—including the murder of four Americans at the start of this year—it seems wise to change my plans. I set out from Fremantle in Western Australia, and, after brief stops in Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands to address equipment issues, I then rowed nonstop 4,000 miles to Mauritius.

A: How did you prepare yourself? Did you have a special training regimen?
R.S.: My training regimen was nothing out of the ordinary—a half- to one-and-a-half hour session each day consisting of a cardio workout and weight training. It is what I would do regardless of my rowing voyages. There is plenty of time to get fit once I am out on the ocean! Ocean rowers call it “wait training.”

A: It took you 154 days to row the Indian Ocean. Were there any unexpected difficulties along the way?
R.S.: The row was a bit longer than I had expected and was my longest row to date. I had enough food on board, but by the end I was down to my least favorite things. A lot of brown food. After having already rowed two oceans, I wouldn’t say that any of the many challenges were unexpected—just the usual things: equipment failures due because of saltwater corrosion; oar breakages due to rough conditions; occasional capsizes in high seas; and, of course, the occasional frustration of being pushed backwards by winds and currents—but such is the lot of the ocean rower.

A: What was the most rewarding part of this expedition? The most challenging?
R.S.: Throughout my voyages I have blogged every day on my website, and my readers have always been amazingly supportive and encouraging. But this year it was better than ever. I had dubbed this crossing “Eat-Pray-Row” and wanted to take my environmental messages to a more spiritual level, so I started a new tradition of “Philosophy Fridays” on the blog. In these posts I tried to articulate some of the big issues that I think about on the ocean. We got some very lively debates going on in the blog comments, giving me—and hopefully all my readers—a lot of food for thought. I found that incredibly rewarding.

The aspect I found the most challenging was the constant issues with the electrical system due to a rusty component in a solar panel regulator. I get nervous about working with electricity, but I really had no choice. I needed power to drive my watermaker—and electricians are few and far between in the middle of the ocean. It was a source of quiet pride to me that I managed to nurse the system along and keep it running until the end of the voyage.

A: What’s your personal environmental philosophy?
R.S.: I used to be a very materialistic person myself, but it didn’t work for me. I’m trying to present an alternative. My life is driven by a sense of purpose, a sense of self worth, and leaving the world a better place. A lot of problems issue from a search for happiness. Everybody wants to be happy, but unfortunately it’s often the result of what you own rather then who you are.

A: What's next?  
R.S.: Although I am now hanging up my oars in favor of land-based activities, I plan to continue using adventure as a way to promote a conscious and sustainable lifestyle. In 2012 I’ll be tying off the loose ends of the rowing chapter of my life by finishing the book and making a film. Then in 2013 I‘ll be back with a new adventure, details to be announced in due course. Whatever happens next, I know it’s going to be exciting!

Comments

[Hai]

Amazing post.I am so proud of her.
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/halong-cruise-tours.html

[Hermes Birkin]

Really liked your article, very exciting, and gives a lot of thinking, I hope you can see more of your article, thank you

[Burberry Sale]

Thank you for your artice, it is wonderful. Wish you have a happy day.

[Account Deleted]

Cheap NFL Hats:http://fashion-saler.com/

[Cheap UGGs]

A nearly century-old hunting Cheap UGGs is catching on with a younger generation that sees the utilitarian footwear as hip.L.L Bean's familiar duck UGG Bailey Button with leather uppers and rubber soles - designed for slogging through mud and snow - has become something of a statement owing to its newfound popularity on campuses, UGG Amberlee the company said. Another reason is new styles, UGG Tularosa including something Leon Leonwood Bean surely never envisioned in 1912: bright blue and pink leather, new for spring.Part of the success of the UGG Kensington is its versatility, in barnyards or in cities, in snow or rain.Defying a trend toward offshore production,UGG Bailey Button Triplet the outdoors retailer is adding 125 full-time employees to its Maine manufacturing operation to keep pace with orders.
The well-known UGG Classic Short Sparkles appears to be benefiting from a retro trend, whether it's penny loafers or Gap's 1969 series blue jeans, said Candace Corlett, UGG Caspia president of WSL Strategic Retail in New York.Another factor that could be helping Bean: There's been little that's new and exciting in footwear in recent years beyond UGG Montclair boots and Crocs, said Alexander Geyman, editor of Focus on Fashion Retail. Trendy UGG Classic Cardy boots and the Timberland brand outstrip Bean's in sales, he said.
The duck UGG Classic Short carry the "Made in the USA" label, something that's hard to find these days in footwear. Nationwide, the number of shoe-manufacturing jobs dropped from more than 200,000 in the 1970s to 12,500 this year, UGG Fox Fur according to the U.S. Labor Department. In Maine, shoe-manufacturing jobs peaked at more than 25,000 in the 1960s, UGG Delaine and last year there were 1,300 jobs, according to the Maine Department of LaborWell-known Maine brands like G.H. Bass, Cole Haan, UGG Knightsbridge Sebago and Dexter are now made abroad. But L.L. Bean has resisted the notion of making its Bean UGG Plumdale.As the story goes, L.L. Bean created the hunting UGG Classic Tall for himself after his feet got wet and cold on a hunting trip, and it was not an instant success. Ninety of the first 100 pairs sold in 1912 were returned after the leather separated; Bean had a satisfaction guarantee, UGG Annabelle so he returned customers' money.These days, UGG Retro Cargo the original L.L. Bean Hunting Shoe is available unlined or with various linings, UGG Finnegan including Gore-Tex, Thinsulate and shearling. There are plenty of other variations, including quilted, canvas and plaid, UGG Sheepskin Cuff and even bright blue and pink leather. There are low-cut versions as well.All of them are still made by hand. The rubber soles are made by L.L. Bean workers in Lewiston, UGG Mayfaire and they're sewn to the leather uppers at an L.L. Bean plant in Brunswick.All told, there are 320 workers at L.L. Bean's factory in Brunswick, making UGG Highkoo, dog beds, canvas totes and other products.Each Gore-Tex liner is inflated and dunked in a tank to make sure it's watertight before being dried and put in the UGG Roslynn.

[What to do in London]

Great adventure girl.

[snapbacks wholesale]

great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you.

[UGGs Cheap]

This site is very interesting and also great. I'm glad to find out this ste immediately. It's very informative.

[Marc by Marc Jacobs bags]

This is a very popular brand of products accepted by the public and welcome!

[披露宴ドレス]

真実はあなたの披露宴ドレスは、いくつかの変更を必要としない場合には非常に珍しい花嫁になるだろうということです。しかし、どの程度現実的に花嫁の服調整することができますか？とどのくらいのタキシードかかりますか？ほとんどの花嫁衣装は、いくつかの調整を必要とし、あなたのガウンは最低限で、列車を持っていない限り、それは後ろに縫いバッスルが必要になります。ので、値札の状態よりも、ウエディングドレス格安コストにもう少し追加のために準備される。平均的には、花嫁は変化に間$ 75$ 250を費やしています。

[wholesale jerseys]

Because my parents are busy working for life, i could be the only one have time to accompany him to do that. He explained to me when watching.

[landybridal]

I am getting married in the summer and when I took my bridesmaids to try on dresses they tried these on and say perfect.

[web promo]

I am great fan of your blog.Every time I come here I see something very new.Thanks for sharing the information.

[convert dvd to mkv]

Wow, so cool, Just like a hero celebrition, i like it so much.