One Ocean Crew

by Kimberley Kleczka (Photo by Ammar Sabaa)

One Ocean Crew are getting ready to embrace their challenge.

In the spirit of embracing challenge, four empowering, tenacious, badass women are getting ready to (r)oar into a journey of a lifetime, confronting the ever-changing and crushing 3,000mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean - in an eco-rowing boat. Our oceans are connected and affect the life of people around the world, from climate change, rising tides, and the everchanging ocean ecosystem. Each day will be different as they deal with the scorching sun, rough storms, no proper amenities, salt sores, dried tasteless food, hard work, sleep deprivation and no “me” time. Yet they brush this off with a smile, a sense of adventure and a gleam of determination in their eyes. They are ready to take on the ultimate test of mind, body and endurance.

One Ocean Crew is the name of this impressive four-woman-team. They represent the steely strength and determination of friends battling the world together. Between them, they have already sailed halfway around the world, trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, rowed in the women’s Henley Regatta, circumnavigated Menorca in a Kayak, walked the UK’s three peaks in 24 hours, climbed Mont Blanc and paddled across the Aegean Sea.

Janette Potgieter is a corporate investigator from South Africa. Emily Woodason, a landscape architect from London. Erin Bastian is a kayak coach and wilderness guide from Cornwell; and Jen Cullom is a Team Great Britain physio from Oxfordshire. Our fearless four are enterprising as they take on The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Ocean Race challenge in December. They will have the only eco-friendly rowing boat in the entire fleet of 35 boats. Her name is Vacquita, named after the endangered porpoise found in the sea of Cortez, off the Gulf of Mexico. “Our ocean is critical for all life on earth, so we really want to raise awareness about its beauty and the wonders of the ocean and how we can protect it” says Emily.

Their amazing adventure begins in San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands. It will take roughly 30 to 90 days to get to the finish line in the sovereign island country of Antigua. I had the chance to chat with these four incredible women about their journey leading up to the race of a lifetime in December 2021.

Where did you meet each other?

JP: We met through the post that Emily put up on facebook. A friend of mine sent it my way. We all met online.

Jen: I came across a post a couple of years ago, of someone who was looking for teammates to row the Pacific. It didn’t work, as the time of the Pacific race overlapped with my Olympic hockey team responsibilities, so it was not something I was able to commit to. However, I managed to persuade work to let me change to a different ocean, since it was after the Olympics. That is when I reached out to Emily.

Emily: We all met online during the first lock down last year in the UK. We could not meet up in person, so we got to know each other through zoom. It was a pretty nervewracking meeting in person the first time. But we had a great time, really connected as friends, went kayaking, ate fish and chips, and chatted about our epic adventure.

Erin: One of my clients spotted Emily’s post looking for a teammate to row the Atlantic Ocean, so I sent Emily an email, being like, pick me, pick me!

Tell us about your recycled eco-boat?

Emily: We think she is beautiful; she is absolutely wonderful. She is called Vacquita. We decided to buy an eco-boat to fit in with part of our campaign “support ocean protection.” The eco-boat is 8 metres long and has two little cabins at each end where we sleep-in two-hour rest period shifts. Vacquita has three rowing seats in the middle and no other facilities. We will have two buckets, one for showering and the other to do our business. She is a sustainable, made of recycled plastic bottles and manufactured using renewable energy.

What provisions do you have to take with you?

Jen: We have to be fully self-sufficient from the beginning of the race through to Antigua. We cannot get any external help or re-supply. We will wear minimal outfits and have maximum food. Most of our nourishment will be made up of dehydrated ration packs that we add water to and a load of dry snacks. We will need to consume about 4,500 calories a day. We have a water maker on board, that will take in the sea water and desalinate it, as well as a first aid kit, tools and safety kit.

JP: On this very small boat, we also have a life raft, throw line, and grab bag in case of any emergency. All of Jen’s chocolate and Erin's special snacks are going to be hidden. We may bring a pillow, other than that it is bare minimum. The heavier the boat, the harder it is to pull ourselves across the ocean.

Who is going to be doing your social media posts for you?

Jen: We will have a land team who will help with that. They will keep our supporters and followers updated as we go.

How do you alternate your seating, so the boat does not capsize?

Jen: It is really hard, that is something we are still trying to master. The boat is so twitchy, as soon as you go slightly off centre, it unbalances the boat. You have to time it, so you all move at the same time. For the majority of the time, we will probably row in pairs, so someone can cook, and someone can do the navigation.

JP: It’s like a one, two, three, oh no stop, I forgot my water bottle. You must think and plan ahead before you do anything.

Emily: We are all harnessed on the boat, so you must make sure you do not get tangled up in each other's lines as well.

What type of training are you doing in preparation?

Jen: Training is multifaceted. We are doing individual gym programs to build strength and endurance, lots of hours on the rowing machine as well as erg tests. We are spending as many hours as we can on the water before our boat gets shipped out. Our goal is to get strong, to tolerate the movement of repetitive rowing and prevent injuries. We are trying to get used to rowing at night, navigation, two hours on and two hours off as well as living on this small vessel. We are also looking at taking some performance psychology courses as well, because one of the biggest challenges we will face on this adventure is the mental challenge.

How do you help each other out mentally?

Jen: JP has just bought us a waterproof speaker for the boat and we have a crew playlist that we are adding songs to. If we need a pick me up, we can whack our playlist on. We are all big fans of singing, which is a nice way to lift our spirits and get us going.

JP: There is a lot to be said in terms of our food and snacks. We do little things to entertain each other, like trying to feed each other while we are rowing or just telling stories or jokes, not to mention the friendly banter. Finding what makes each other chuckle will be part of the whole adventure.

Time to taste test the dehydrated ration packs, yummy.

Rowing together makes you strong and gives you a special family

Mapping out the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

Do you have a special diet now?

JP: It is important to get the right balance of proteins and carbs that your body needs. Emily is our nutritional lead. She has the pleasure of knowing how much we weigh, and how much we need to eat.

Emily: It is key now to plan all the food we are eating to be in line with our training regimen. We all record on our apps what we are eating every day, to hit certain targets. Obviously when we go out on the race, there is a whole nutritional balance plan.

What is the competition about?

Erin: There are approximately 35 boats racing this year. It varies between five person teams, four person teams, three’s twos and some crazy solos. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Ocean Race is known as the world's toughest rowing race. It is super long (approximately 3,000 miles) and we are hoping to do it in 43 days. The fastest it has ever been done is 29 days. It all depends on the weather and the mercy of the ocean. The race is becoming well known, there is a thing called dart watching at the yellow brick app, where people can watch their teams as they progress across the Atlantic.

Will there be any support vessels?

JP: They’ve got two sailing boats that go out with you. You may see them once or twice as they take photographs. If there is a problem, it could be a day or two before they get to you, so you must be selfsufficient. If anything goes wrong, you must sort yourself out. If you take anything from the support boats or surrender to them, you will be disqualified.

What do you feel like emotionally when you are in the middle of the ocean?

JP: It’s freedom, it’s silence, its madness, you cannot explain. You feel so small, you also feel so big, because you are close to what is so raw. It is real beauty, the sunrise, the sunsets. It opens your eyes and brings a new perspective.

Emily: The most amazing part of being out in the middle of the ocean is that all your attention is focussed on the now. When we are out there, it will be a huge sense of relief after the build-up, and a huge sense of accomplishment.

What charity are you supporting?

Emily: We are raising money for the Sea Rangers Service. They are a social enterprise based in The Netherlands. Incredible organization, they are bringing in naval veterans to train younger people in their maritime careers. Youngsters are put through a rigorous training program like a military boot camp. Then for the first couple of years, they work in the sea ranger service. They support the conservation and the protection of marine life, across all waters. They are also involved in other environmental practices.

“Rowing is a sport for dreamers. As long as you put in the work, you can own the dream. When the work stops, the dream disappears.” - JIM DIETZ

“Glory is in the team not the individual.” - SEAN SULLIVAN

What does ocean sustainability mean to you?

Erin: The ocean is my office as well as my playground. About 10 years ago, I would land on beaches in my Kayak, and I was seeing vast quantities of plastics and waste. It got to the point where it seemed ridiculous not to be doing anything about it. At lunchtime with my kayaking clients, I try to do a beach clean-up and remove plastics from the shore that will fit in our boats. The ocean means everything to me, and it seems mad that we are not doing more to protect it. Emily: I work in an industry where I look at different ways where I can try and reconnect people with nature. This includes everything from the air we breathe, to the food we eat. Everything relies on a well-functioning environment, an ecosystem around us, and a key part of that is the ocean. I think a message that is important to me is that all the water around the world is connected in some way. It is very important that we protect our ocean environment. That will help lead our future generations to live in a more balanced nature,

Jen: I think for everyone it's just important to understand what connects you. For me personally, I have always loved being by the ocean. It is a stress reliever, for mental health and relaxation. It is nourishing for the soul. The ocean is vital for life, it is vital for everything. Whether it is the economy or people’s livelihood, protecting the ocean is key to survival and sustainability for mankind. JP: The reality is, if you meet somebody who has not been in the ocean or close to it, you feel like they are missing something. One thing I have realised is there is so much to say about educating people and informing them about what is right and what is wrong. There is a big focus these days on companies to have this on their agenda, which is amazing. There is still a lot to be done, but we are making good progress. Every single person must take on a personal responsibility. Like recycling, supporting companies that are sustainable, is some of the little things you can do.

What do you want to get out of this journey?

Erin: Experience the ocean in a way like I have never seen. I want to see all of its moods. I want to see it at dawn at dusk. Want to see it in the deep of night. I want to really feel like I am part of it.

Emily: I am keen to see what my body and mind are capable of. This is an epic endurance feat, physically and mentally. I have never done anything like this in my life and I want to prove to myself, I can do it.

Who said urging wasn't fun? We've got this!

Jen: I want to experience what it is like being surrounded by the ocean, understanding the force of the ocean, the mental challenge, seeing what I can achieve. I believe when we are challenged in life we grow. This journey will give me the confidence to do that.

JP: It’s about just pushing through, being true to yourself, bringing your strength to the team, complimenting each other and getting across the Atlantic ocean together. How we think and how we adapt as a team will be critical to our success. The finish line is going to be the ultimate achievement for me.

What words of wisdom can you share?

Erin: Plucking up the courage to take that first step towards your dream, has got to be the hardest bit. As soon as you meet other women who are sharing your dreams, it then becomes a whole lot easier. It is encouraging to find other amazing women doing something you never thought you would be able to do.

JP: Take a chance, be curious and kind of push your own limits. I think too many people are scared of failure, and everyone is scared of that failing word. If you fall, get up and walk forward. If something has gone wrong, get back up and do it again. We always regret the things we haven’t done, just try it, whatever it is. Because you are a woman, people think you cannot do it. That is so old school. It is not realistic anymore. Stop thinking that way and just do it.

Erin: It does not matter what you want to do, it took me until I was 30 to do something like row on an ocean. It could be anything, it does not have to be something big, it is about taking that first step. Challenging yourself opens other doors and makes you curious about other things. Then you go on this journey of exploration and start to experience lots of exciting things in life.

Emily: It is so easy to think, oh, I ‘ve got this going on. I’ll do it next year and then it leads into the following year. Before you know it, that opportunity is gone. Seize the day, take it now, go for it and bring your friends and family with you. Having the support of my friends and family has been a huge part of this so far. We have already experienced some tough times trying to do our fundraising, pulling this campaign together online, but together, we will succeed!

Your kindness will help us conquer our dreams!

If you would like to support our journey, we would be most appreciative. Together, we can conquer The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Ocean Race. Click here to support team Vacquita. https://www.oneoceancrew.org/