Posted: Sep 14, 2009 03:58 am EDT
(TheOceans.net) 24-year old Sarah Outen became the first woman to row across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Mauritius single-handed, unsupported and the youngest person to do so.

In an interview with ExWeb’s Correne Coetzer she tells about her highs and lows on the ocean and on land, her physical condition, how she stayed positive and she gives valuable advice to potential rowers.

ExplorersWeb: How do you feel at the moment after being such a long time alone at sea?

Sarah: Land life is certainly taking a lot of getting used to – I have been on an emotional rollercoaster these past few weeks.

ExplorersWeb: How long did it take you to get your land legs?

Sarah: For the first few days I looked a bit drunk when I walked and it wasn’t for a couple of weeks that my legs stopped swelling up. My first run was really painful – my musculature had changed so much.

ExplorersWeb: Did you do your exercises regularly n the boat?

Sarah: I stretched as best I could but with such a small space you’re a bit limited.

ExplorersWeb: How does your body feel?

Sarah: Right now I’m feeling pretty tired – after all the busy things and emotions of being back in the real world. It took a while to stop aching and get rid of the stiffness.

ExplorersWeb: Any injuries?

Sarah: I was fairly bruised and battered to start with, and had a nasty cut on my foot, but a couple of weeks in Mauritius sorted that out. Now I’ve just got some niggling knots in my muscles and a very stiff back – but my physio is working on them!

ExplorersWeb: Have you lost much weight?

Sarah: I lost about 20 kilos at sea so looked quite drawn when I first got back, but I’m now looking more normal.

ExplorersWeb: How does your skin look like?

Sarah: The salt and sunshine does wonders for my normally dry skin, though my backside took a bit of a beating with salt sores.

ExplorersWeb: Your boat capsized and you had a frightening time. What happened? How did that affect your rowing and mood?

Sarah: Mid ocean capsizes were scary but the most frightening was on my final approach to the island, where the coastal shelf makes for very steep breaking waves. Needless to say, it was not the landing I had envisaged!

ExplorersWeb: You first had a ‘practice row’. What happened? How did that influence your spirit/motivation?

Sarah: Contrary winds and a strong current meant I was on for dinner with the penguins, and an electrical issue brought me in to shore for a restart. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened, so was no bad thing to restock, rest and head out again.

ExplorersWeb: How did you keep yourself positive and going when times were tough, and when the wind and the currents were against you?

Sarah: Each day I would make a list of ‘Good things about today’ – you have to find different things to focus on when mileage isn’t great or the weather is against you. Sometimes it was hard but you just have to keep focused on the end goal and making progress little by little.

ExplorersWeb: What were the best moments during your solo row?

Sarah: Wildlife encounters top the charts – whales, albatrosses, the pilot fish who accompanied my boat. Then there are the stars, the moonrises, sunrises, sunsets … surfing down waves … swimming in the deep blue: so many great moments.

ExplorersWeb: What occupied your mind most of the time?

Sarah: Allsorts of things – from the sea, the stars, the clouds, to home life, to food, to what I’ll do in my life next. I dreamed a lot about food.

ExplorersWeb: How did a typical day looked like?

Sarah: Row as much as possible, while making sure I was getting enough rest to be useful at the oars. Simple life out there. Food would punctuate the day and any chores would be fitted in as and when.

ExplorersWeb: What about the oceans in general draws you in?

Sarah: There is an energy out there on the oceans that I have found nowhere else – it is addictive, refreshing, testing. I love the different moods and the way it can go from still calm to raging beast in an instant. It is fickle and beautiful.

ExplorersWeb: What advice can you give to rowers who want to row the Indian Ocean solo?

Sarah: Talk to as many different ocean rowers as you can, go with the best boat builder around, prepare and train, and pack lots of chocolate. Don’t underestimate the strength of the ocean or what it takes to put the campaign together or to get across. The Indian is a fickle, unpredictable beast – but it is beautiful too, so the crossing will be worth it. And never, but never, give up.

ExplorersWeb: Looking back is their anything you would have done different?

Sarah: I forgot to take a hairbrush and a plankton net would have been fun.

ExplorersWeb: Did you have contact with the Woodvale Indian Ocean Rowers who was also rowing from Australia to Mauritius? Was it a motivation to know there are fellow rowers on the Ocean as well?

Sarah: I knew a few of the boats in the race – and was in fairly regular contact with one, Flying Ferkins. It was good to swap tales on what the weather was doing and I teased them about all the exciting food I kept finding, but as I didn’t see anyone for all those 124 days, it was a bit of a surreal notion anyway.

ExplorersWeb: You have done a major expedition/voyage at a young age. What are your future plans?

Sarah: You’ll have to wait and see… I am going to announce my next project in two weeks time. I am also writing a book about the voyage and developing my speaking career.

Briton Sarah Outen left Fremantle Western Australia on 1 April 2009 on the Quest for the first female to row solo/unsupported across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Mauritius. She completed her row on 3 August 2009 after being 124 days on the Ocean aboard Serendipity (“Dippers”). At 24 years of age she became the youngest person to solo the Indian from Australia to Mauritius and the youngest woman to solo any ocean.

The Indian Ocean has been rowed single-handed/unsupported first in 1971 by Anders Svedlund. It took the Swedish rower 64 days to complete the journey aboard Roslagena. He completed a crossing from Kalbarri, Western Australia to Diego Suarez, Madagascar (4,313 miles).

In 2003 Brit Simon Chalk completed the solo/unsupported row in 107 days. He set out from Kalbarri, Western Australia, and arrived at Rafael Island (4,027 miles)

“A further successful solo crossing and one double handed crossing of the Indian Ocean followed Simon’s voyage in 2005 and 2007 respectively and the current record for rowing across the Indian Ocean is held by Ukrainian, Paval Rezvoy who rowed from the Cocos Islands, Australia to Mahe in the Seychelles (2,977 miles) in 57 days,” stated the Woodvale Indian Ocean Race organisers before the Eight boat “Aud Eamus” rowed from Australia to Mauritius in 58 days, 15 hours and 08 minutes in 2009.

Sarah Outen was born on 26th May 1985 and is living in the UK. She is currently writing a book about her Indian Ocean row from Australia to Mauritius. Sarah is very interested in nature conservation and marine biology; enjoy literature and adventures, namely water sports.

Saturday 17th October, the Whipper Inn Hotel, Oakham, UK is hosting a post ocean party for Sarah. “It's vaguely sea-themed and will include drinks, munchies, photos
and film, music and Dippers in the courtyard outside. Everyone is super, super welcome,” said Sarah. More details will be posted on her website.

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