At sunset on May 24, 2009, Roz set out from Waikiki Yacht Club in Hawaii to row to Tuvalu in the South Pacific. This stage of her row was enlivened by a great number of encounters with marine wildlife, including a whale shark, dolphins, whales and turtles, and several booby birds who decided to hitch a ride on her boat and settled in for several weeks. There was also a very messy incident with three low-flying squid, who in their bid to escape from a predator by propelling themselves at high speed out of the water, were no doubt very surprised to find a small ocean rowboat in their way.
Once again the watermaker succumbed to conditions, and when strong westerly winds eventually made it impossible to reach Tuvalu, Roz was forced by dwindling food and water supplies to make landfall instead on the island of Tarawa in Kiribati. There she met the President, and learned from him how he plans to relocate his people as their low-lying islands become uninhabitable due to rising sea levels.
Hawaii to Kiribati 2009:
Miles traveled: 3,158
Oarstrokes: about 1,335,834
Time alone at sea: 104 days
Number of times across the Equator: 2
Larabars consumed: 297
Pounds lost: 30
Whale sharks: 1
Other sharks: dozens
Other whales: dozen or so, species unknown
Dolphins: dozens
Turtles: 3
Squid: 3, landed on deck, very messy
ROZ'S STORY
Why would someone who seemed to have a life of ease and comfort leave it all behind to brave some of the most inaccessible, unpredictable, and dangerous parts of the planet?
BIOGRAPHY
The no-frills, bare-bones, facts and figures version
CHRONOLOGY
Still not sure what happened when? Click here for the timeline of Roz's voyages and other achievements.
VOYAGES
Lots more detail about Roz's expeditions across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
SPEAKING
Roz has spoken to tens of thousands of people across six continents, to corporate, governmental, nonprofit, environmental, and educational audiences.
ENVIRONMENT
Concern for the environment was the driving force behind Roz's voyages. She continues to advocate for a sustainable future, alongside a variety of partner organisations.
BOOKS
Details about "Rowing the Atlantic" and "Stop Drifting Start Rowing"
DOCUMENTARY
Get a digital download of "Rowing the Atlantic", Journeyfilm's award-winning documentary.
FAQ
Got a question? There's a good chance it's been asked before.