Atlantic Row: My Biggest Adventure! Not Today Blog 28

In December 2023, I am going to cross the Atlantic in a rowing boat. I am taking part in an event called the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. My first Atlantic row.

Dream

Every year, 30 to 40 rowing boats put to sea from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to Antigua in the Caribbean. I have been thinking about this adventure for years. Now I am officially registered for the 2023 race. One more dream is within reach. I couldn’t be happier!

I could try to explain what ocean rowing and this event are about, but no words would give it justice. There are three videos and one blog post that will never let me go again.

Rowing across an Ocean

Many people don’t know how difficult it is to edit hours of video material down to the essentials. In two minutes and thirty seconds, this video conveys all the emotions that such a crazy adventure brings. It is also proof that quality camera equipment alone is nothing without a good story. Or to put it the other way round, what amazing videos you can film with your phone! Oh, and it shows a lot of naked butts haha!

Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2015 Documentary

This documentary is so emotional. I love the story of Lauren Morton and the other contestants tell. They all seem so raw and genuine.

Through Hell and High Water

If you don’t know Ben Fogle yet, this is the perfect introduction to the mind of someone who has made the search for adventure part of his life.

And finally my favourite blog post about rowing the Atlantic Ocean. “10 weird things that happen when you row the Atlantic solo” by Kiko Matthews

“[…] And then two huge ones [waves] came along. I say they were 80ft but they could have been 100ft. […] There was no point worrying about the fact that I was potentially going to be smashed to pieces […]. So then you get to the top of the wave. You look around and you can see for miles. And you can also see the massive pit of doom that you’re about to head into. But you can’t fear anything.”

Kiko Matthews

Telling My Friends About My Atlantic Row

I haven’t been journaling much lately. Though there are moments when scribbling into my journal is the only way to sort out my thoughts and emotions.

Here are a few excerpts from the last few weeks.

31 January 2021
I have done it.
I have signed up for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
It has been on my mind for so long. It has been on my vision board for so long.
(...)
I can't wait to get to work. Life is short. I want to show the people that no dream, no idea, no passion is unachievable. The best day to start pursuing that one thing is today.

05 March 2021
Oh my god.
Our names were uploaded to the TWAC website today. 

Since knowing that I would likely be part of the TWAC, I thought about surprising my family and friends with the news. I thought this was because I wanted to have the perfect surprise for them.

In fact, I was only postponing telling everybody because I myself did not grasp yet that rowing the Atlantic Ocean - possibly my biggest adventure - was suddenly becoming reality.

Today I took action and scheduled hourly calls starting from 6PM to finally tell everyone what I am up to.

It's 12:09 at night now and I am overwhelmed. Everybody was soooo supportive after the initial shock. It means the world to me. 

(...)

I wonder if I can sleep tonight. This weird energy.
I feel exhausted and energized at the same time. It's real.

I just received this message: "I could cry right now. You are the most inspiring person I know."
La Gomera is offically one step closer.

11 March 2021
I should be asleep right now.
I don't know if I will ever be able to sleep again.
Yes, I had 2 glasses of Vodka earlier tonight with my neighbors. I feel like I needed those.

I don't know if there was one second in the past two hours where I didn't have this grin on my face.

I just posted a video of my friends and family reacting to this crazy journey I have ahead of me. 

I'm trying to tell myself, with all my power, that this isn't as big as I think it is.

I can't.

This is what I wanted for years. I'm sat on my bed right next to the vision board I put on my wall in 2019.
In between photos of plastic recycling, the Six Star Finisher Medal and the great wall of China there are two photos of ocean rowing boats.

Why Not Today

Life is short. You know what to do. Find that one thing that really means something to you. Find your personal Atlantic and don’t stop until you have crossed it. Let’s cross it together. Why not today?

D

To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
(…)
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.

William Arhtur Ward