Team Northern Atlantic 2011

Here’s a video, recently posted by Shaun Quincey (rowing from Australia to New Zealand in November of 2009 – next month), providing a really interesting background to Shaun’s solo rowing project.  Of particular interest is Colin Quincey’s boat: she appears to be a flat-bottom dory with a fixed seat, mostly covered with decking.  I found this to be a really interesting video!  Thanks for sharing, Shaun, and best of luck with your row!

I saw Roz Savage tonight at the National Geographic Live! in downtown Washington D.C. (corner of M Street NW and 17th Street), where she gave a talk on ocean rowing and the ethereal pursuit of personal happiness.  Her talk kicked-off the first in a three-part series of National Geographic Live! talks centering around the ‘Quest for Adventure’.  I purchased tickets for the entire series, as I am hoping to live vicariously through the presenters…

Roz’s talk was interesting, but I felt I was already familiar with most of the material and information presented this evening, as I have been reading her blog for some time now.  All of the videos she showed were straight from her blog and/or from the Woodvale and AOR sites.  Note to self – if I ever get around to rowing an ocean, keep a secret stash of pictures and videos, not available online, for in-person presentations.  Nevertheless, the material was perfect for the intended audience.  Besides, I never get tired of the video where she has to cut her para-anchor free in the 2005 Atlantic Rowing Race.

Most of all, I am struck by the brand Roz has created around herself and her rowing.  She now has a book out that she is selling and she’s been traveling a heck of a lot since finishing the second leg of her Pacific row.  And with the ‘Roz Savage’ brand comes a message of environmental awareness and concern, which is a cool thing to witness.  Some dude in the audience tonight asked if she was related to ‘Doc Savage‘ (yes, it takes all kinds).  The ‘Savage’ part of the brand is rather appealing to a wide audience.

I might be wrong on this, but I got a sense that Roz might be done with Ocean Rowing after completing the final leg of her Pacific Row; I also got the sense that her 2005 Atlantic Row was much tougher than she anticipated, but I’m sure that’s the case for all who endeavor to row an ocean. I imagine Ocean Rowing is one of those things that’s nearly impossible to adequately train for – you just gotta do it.  Feel the sweet pain and relish the journey!

I took note of her comment that once she got the idea in her head, she just had to do the row to get over the idea – there was just no way around it.  Dave Clarke put it to me like this: ‘once you get the idea in your head [to row an Ocean], you’re knackered!’.  It seems to be true.

I wish I could post some pictures of the event, but National Geographic is really anal about preventing photography and video recordings at these events.  National Geographic, your anti-photo and video taking policy at these events sucks.  Bloggers are adventurers too…or something like that.

Finally, I received a strange email today containing a YouTube link to this video, which is my rowing team’s ultimate retribution for me not going to the Head of the Charles this year – yes, Roz Savage, who has never met me, calls me a ‘woos’!! Be still, my heart! Also notice how excited she becomes when she hears I am coming to hear her speak in DC.