By: Greg Spooner
152 arduous days in, ocean rowing colleague Roz Savage is approaching the end of the line. Her physical destination is Mauritius, a small island ~500 miles east of Madagascar (off the eastern coast of Africa). Getting here meant traversing over 3,000 miles of lonely ocean with nothing but her oars, the sun, wind, sea life, her thoughts, and of course, her daily blogs. Mauritius is the traditional end-point for trans-Indian Ocean rows, and she is one of a very select group of rowers who will have succeeded in getting here from Australia – under human power no less. While a final landfall for the row, this also will serve as the final chapter in her storied ocean rowing career. For that, a hearty ‘congratulations’ is in order for a job well-done.
Retirement announcement:
http://www.rozsavage.com/2011/10/01/day-151-hanging-up-my-oars/
Her website:
http://www.rozsavage.com/
Jordan and I first heard of Roz back in 2005 when we were mounting our own expedition, preparing for the 2006 North Atlantic Rowing Race. Ever in need of seeing how the other folks are doing things, we paid attention to her (and others’) blogs, and took detailed notes on every photo to help kit our boat. By ocean rowing standards, she took a snail’s pace across that region of the Atlantic Ocean. It gave us our first perspective, though, on potential challenges and life-at-sea on a rowboat. What her lengthy crossing really turned into for everybody, however, was a new journey that would take her across two more oceans, and most importantly, thrust ocean rowing into the spotlight.
While OAR Northwest succeeded at getting the sport in front of international audiences through appearances on CNN and Good Morning America, Roz did that and more. She turned ocean rowing into a vehicle for self-exploration, and for campaigning for a cleaner environment. I once saw her as a headline on the front page of Yahoo! … no small feat. Burgeoning ocean rowers look to Roz for inspiration.
Ocean rowing is by all means a niche sport. Within small circles, people recognize and understand the mental, physical, emotional, and financial strains necessary to integrate modern-day exploration into the modern-day world. But most people may not get it – and that’s okay. We’re all very similar though… Some people choose to walk a 5k, some ride the STP (Seattle to Portland) on their bicycle, some try a sprint triathalon… we traverse large bodies of water under oar power.
Here are a couple other friends who are on their own quests:
- Erden Eruc’s Around – n – Over – Circumnavigating the globe under human power, climbing 6 of the 7 summits. The first person to row 3 oceans solo.
- Wave Vidmar’s Ocean Row Solo – Crossing the North Atlantic solo next year
- Katie Spotz’s Row for Water & Ride for Your Lives