Sarah Outen
Girls Own Adventure
Sarah’s story so far:
In 2009 at the age of 24, Sarah Outen from Rutland, became the first and only woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Her 124 day journey from Australia to Mauritius in her tiny six metre boat captured the imagination of people around the globe, earned her three Guinness World Records and cemented her reputation as Britain’s most exciting female adventurer.
A New Challenge: Overview London2London
On the 1st April 2011, Sarah will embark on the most difficult and dangerous solo expedition ever undertaken by a woman: London2London: Via the World Plotting a route never before attempted, her record-breaking 20,000 mile 2 and a half year adventure will see her rowing the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans solo, as well as cycling across three continents.
Midday on April Fool’s Day, with the tide behind her , Sarah will set off from Tower Bridge, London, to journey right around the globe using a kayak, a bicycle and a tiny rowing boat.
She will set off on down the Thames and cross the Channel in her kayak Nelson, then cycle 7,800 in 22 weeks on her bike Hercules through France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and then back into Russia. Sarah will then use Nelson and Hercules to paddle and cycle her way over 1,000 miles to Japan via the remote island of Sakhalin. She will then row solo across 5000 miles of the North Pacific in her tiny boat Gulliver, take up Hercules saddle again and cycle 3,000 miles from Vancouver to New York, then row solo home across 2,500 miles of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Nobody has ever rowed this combination of oceans in a single journey around the globe, solo or otherwise.
Only 2 men have ever rowed the North Pacific solo. Sarah will be the first woman to row solo across the North Pacific.
Her record breaking endeavour is expected to last 2 and a half years and, true to the idea of a continuous journey, she won’t be coming home in between legs.
Sarah’s dangerous journey is unique. She will be breaking records, blazing trails and sharing her adventure with school children as she goes, uploading blogs, video and engaging in live Q&A’s with classrooms around the world.
The dangers of this expedition are many and varied:
Sarah says: ‘When you say goodbye on a trip like this you hug your loved-ones tightly, with the knowledge you might not hug them again. The roads are the scariest bits – there’s a real possibility of being knocked from the bike at any time, or squashed by a truck, so and I need to stay focused. The oceans are something else entirely. I’m still scared of jumping in the ocean. On my Indian Ocean row there were times when I felt physically awful, I was hallucinating and more tired than I’ve ever been in my life. Capsizing within sight of Mauritius, with the boat rolling and rolling and me wondering if I’d die was a low point last time, but I can’t wait to get out on the sea again!’
Specific Dangers:
· English Channel – the busiest shipping lane in the world. Sarah will be in a tiny kayak, virtually invisible to the eye.
· Cycling trans Europe – traffic, road accidents, people
· Cycling through Kazakhstan and China: bears and wolves, mountains, altitude sickness, extreme heat, extreme cold
· Pacific Ocean: capsizing, drowning, hypothermia, starvation
Fears:
Sarah has a fear of deep water!
Unique:
No female explorer has ever undertaken such a challenge before and nobody has ever attempted this route. Sarah 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!’
Sarah Outen: London2London Launch
Friday 1st April Noon Tower Bridge, London
In the presence of her family; Mum Helen Outen and brothers Michael and Matthew Outen, her friends her nominated charities, her sponsors, schoolchildren from the Rutland area and pupils from Stamford School, a gospel choir and royal Navy escort boats, Sarah Outen will launch her expedition at noon on Friday 1st April 2011. With the first stroke of her paddle she will begin her journey from the foot of Tower Bridge, a journey that will take her 20,000 miles around the globe in 2 and a half years.
L2L in numbers
Find Sarah on: Twitter | Facebook | Website
§ 2 ocean rows
§ 3 continents by bike
§ 500 miles by kayak
§ 20,000 miles
§ 6 – 8 000 calories a day
§ 850 days away
§ 14 countries
§ 30 months
§ Up to 11 months at sea
§ A few world records
§ Lots of stories
§ One little tent
§ A team of elves
§ Lots of chocolate
Find Sarah on: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Route:
· London to France (Kayak) April 1st – April 7th* 2011 (102 nautical miles)
· Trans Europe and Asia to Far Eastern Russia (Cycle) April 10th 2011 – Sept 1st 2011 (France to Kazakhstan 2,000 miles, Kazakhstan 2,000 miles, China 3,000 miles, Far Eastern Russia 800 miles : total - 7800 miles)
· Russia to Japan, via Sakhalin (Cycle/Kayak) September 6th to October 2011 (1,100 miles)
· North Pacific Ocean, Choshi, Japan to Vancouver, Canada (Solo row) Spring to Autumn 2012 (4,300 nautical miles)
· Trans Canada/USA to Nova Scotia (Cycle/kayak) Autumn 2012 – Spring 2013 (3,000 miles)
· North Atlantic Ocean to UK (Solo row) * May to August 2013 (2,500 nautical miles)
· Landing point to London (Kayak/Cycle) Approx dates September 2013
Sarah Outen: Biography
D.O.B: May 1985
Place of birth: Germany (father was in the RAF)
Sarah Outen grew up in Rutland, where she now lives in between adventures.
She spent her childhood playing sports, cycling and seeking out famous-five-style exploits. This modern day ‘George’, was destined for a life of adventure.
First took up a paddle in Rutland Water aged 12 and an oar in 2004 while a student at Oxford.
Sarah went to Stamford High School and then to Oxford University (St Hugh’s College) from where she graduated in 2007 with a degree in biology. After leaving university, she taught for a year before embarking on her record breaking Indian Ocean row in 2009.
Sarah set off from Fremantle, Australia on 13th March 2009, but was caught in the Leeuwin current which saw her loop 400 miles before she had to return to shore after 11 days – she later termed this her ‘warm up lap’. On the 1st April 2009 she set off again from Freemantle in her 19ft boat Serendipity and spent 124 days, 14 hours and 9 minutes at sea rowing 4,180 nautical miles to Mauritius. Arriving at Bois Des Amourettes on the 3rd August 2009, she became the first woman to row solo across the Indian, the youngest person to row solo across the Indian and at the time the youngest female to row across any ocean. Sarah lost 20kg of weight and famously enjoyed 500 bars of chocolate during her row.
Her first book ‘ A Dip in the Ocean’ was published in 2011.
Sarah Outen: Awards & Achievements
Ø First woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean (2009)
Ø Youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean (2009)
Ø Youngest female to row across any ocean (2009)
Ø 2011: Published first book: ‘A Dip In The Ocean’ (Summersdale)
Ø 2010: Appointed Ambassador for The Blue Project
Ø 2009 Became a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society
Ø 2009 Winner of Best of Explorers’ Web 2009 Awards for Indian Ocean Row
Ø 2009 Indian Ocean Row – three world records obtained:
Ø 2008 Completed the 125 mile endurance Devizes to Westminster Race (2nd Solo Female)
Ø 2007 Crewed with Geoff Holt’s Round Britain Sailing Challenge
Ø 2007 Sarah graduated from Oxford University
Quotes on Sarah:
"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. But I’m sure she will succeed and confirm that she is an adventurer and expeditioner second to none. We, in the Transglobe Expedition Trust are delighted to be among her supporters and wish her every success not only in the physical challenges but also in her admirable work with schools. Definitely mad. Definitely marvellous." Ran Fiennes OBE
“When I first met her, I knew that Sarah Outen was a very special person with fire in her belly.” “ I wish Sarah good luck for London2London via the world, I think it’s a fantastic project particularly working with young people to inspire them and to teach them all about her journeys – I really look forward to following it.” Dame Ellen MacArthur
"What a brilliant dream to take on. Her cycling route will be a rich tapestry of cultures and a whole new challenge in contrast to the vast emptiness of the oceans. Knowing Sarah, I have no doubt of her endurance and resilience as well as her natural ability to share the journey." Mark Beaumont, round the world cyclist & documentary maker
‘Sarah – you are obviously certifiably bonkers. Thank God’ Dawn French
Sarah’s Inspiration:
Sarah says: ‘Idedicated my Indian Ocean row to the memory of my Dad, Derek Outen. He died very suddenly and unexpectedly in 2006 having suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 20 years. He was diagnosed when I was just a wee toddler. Often it would knock him flat out for days on end. But Dad was an unstoppable force. He was courageous, determined and stubborn in his fight to keep going through the trials and setbacks of operations and illness. Without doubt, he has been and will remain, one of the greatest inspirations in my life. When days were tough out on the ocean, the memory of his courage and spirited fight kept me going and got me to the other side.”
Sarah’s Indian Ocean row raised £30,000 for charities working to represent and support people with arthritis.
London2London Charities:
Sarah Outen will be raising money for:
Coppafeel! The charity set up by Kristin Hallenga has a mission is to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, know what their boobs look and feel like normally, check their boobs regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities. http://www.coppafeel.org/
The Jubilee Sailing Trust : The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a registered charity whose mission isto promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of sailingtall ships on the open sea. The Trust owns and operates Lord Nelson and Tenacious, the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals. http://www.jst.org.uk
MND Association: The MND Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that funds and promotes global research into the disease and provides support for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease. http://www.mndassociation.org
Water Aid: WaterAid is an international non governmental organisation whose mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. http://www.wateraid.org.uk
Sarah on Coppafeel!
I don't have enough fingers to count the people I know who have had breast cancer, and being so close in age to Kristin Hallenga, Founder of Coppafeel!, her story brought it home all the more, that breast cancer knows no age. I shall be coppin' a feel right around the world.
What Kristin has done with Coppafeel! continues to inspire me and I know it will spur me on to keep pedalling, rowing and paddling as I journey round the world. She is a friend and heroine of the 21st Century and I am proud to be supporting their mission.
Sarah on the Jubilee Sailing Trust
I have always loved getting out on the water and I am always keen to support charities that help others to do the same, particularly since watching my own father lose his independence and freedom for such activities through severe rheumatoid arthritis. I look forward to joining a JST voyage on my return and meanwhile wish them fair winds and happy sailing.
Sarah on MND Association
A close friend of mine lost her Mum to MND around the same time that my Dad died - so the impact of this disease hit home in a very raw and emotional way. When I came across Patrick Joyce and his campaign for MNDA in 2010, I was inspired to find out more. I am now proud to call him a friend and am even more inspired to do my bit in the fight against MND. The battles of those living with MND are far worse than my battles out on expedition, so I will use Patrick's optimism and energy as fuel when times get tough.
Sarah on WaterAid
Water is life and without it life is nothing. This became so clear to me out on my Indian row in 2009 when I ran low on water. That is why I am so keen to support WaterAid's work - in the hope that one day we will all have access to fresh, clean water, no matter where we live.
Sarah’s Sponsors:
TITLE SPONSOR: Accenture,
Major Sponsors: Mars, Ernst & Young, Iridium
Supporting sponsors: Santos Bikes , Gill, Berghaus, Kokatat, Rockpool Kayaks, Iridium
Sarah on Accenture
I am really proud and very excited to be working with Accenture as Title Sponsor. Their global reach is a perfect reflection of the expedition. The UK team is using the London2London story to tie in with the training of the latest batch of Analysist to join Accenture – we are all on a two year journey. This all happened quite recently – and they have certainly lived up to their own expectations of their tag line; ‘High Performance. Delivered.’