EP1 - Surviving 208 Days On The Pacific, San Francisco To The Equator -John Beeden - Ocean Rowing

[@MountainsCallingMe]

EPIC JOURNEY!

[@soloatlanticrower]

Thanks Eric, it was a bit more epic than I thought it would be.

[@gordoncellist]

Amazing and inspiring journey, thanks for sharing this!

[@juddotto3660]

The more I watch the more I'm inspired

[@david_4246]

Sorry I seen that you already answered my question about food and water in another comment. Epic journey! 👍

[@joseguerrero1306]

AWESOME JOURNEY MAN 👍👏 GOING STRONG!!! THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION 🇺🇸🇲🇽✅️

[@findermanimages]

Brilliant video. That's some distance and some adventure 🙌🏼

[@soloatlanticrower]

thanks

[@seanprentice2479]

That’s an epic adventure sir. Inspires me to do the same. I can only imagine what it was like 👍

[@JohnB-uf7ft]

How do you communicate with family? Ever have radio failure? Lose power? If you capsized, how water proof is the interior? How do you right a capsized craft? Sounds like a very wet life!

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi John, yes it's a wet (salty) life, assuming you have both cabin hatches closed the boats self right, have a sat phone but mostly use it for txt and emails, power is solar so sometimes has to be rationed. Come close to capsizing a few times but never gone over, bit of luck and good boat management.

[@abotani662]

sir you are a Legend!

[@pamelabewley1685]

Wow!!! What a man if accomplished visions you are! Your such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your life with us!!! Have you written any books? If not, you should and if so, where can I find them! Thanks for letting me see that bigs dreams are obtainable!

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi Pamela, Thanks for the nice comments. No book I'm afraid, there are some quite mundane books about ocean rowing and I didn't want to add to that collection. I did write a blog solopacificrow.com/category/pacific2015/ , being at sea rowing can be a bit repetitive but I think the immediacy of the blog reflects the challenges I face better than a book written in a cozy office somewhere.

[@leefowler3240]

the indomitable human spirit coupled with skill and knowledge, WOW; to know thyself

[@soloatlanticrower]

Thanks Lee, by the time I got to Cairns I got to know myself too well.

[@leefowler3240]

@@soloatlanticrower I would be interested in your profession and background

[@leefowler3240]

Watching EP2 now

[@soloatlanticrower]

I've been a competitive (club) runner since my teens, I've been involved in major sporting event management the last 30 years although in semi retirement now.

[@davidmcdonald8834]

@@leefowler3240

[@fedeLibre]

Desde España: 🦑¡Bravo por usted y por su aventura en solitario!🐬

[@soloatlanticrower]

Gracias España, verdaderamente apreciada

[@humanafterall2076]

Hi John, awesome achievement. What bottom paint do you use, copper coat or something else Cheers

[@soloatlanticrower]

I Used Hempel Cruising Performer

[@atlantic_love]

Not a comfortable question for me to ask: how does one go to the bathroom out on the ocean?

[@soloatlanticrower]

You use a bucket, not easy in a big rolling sea with waves crashing over the gunnels

[@Keith.Vieira]

When you say power anchor what are you using for that?? Like a trolling motor with spot lock to keep you in place?

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi Keith, it's like a big drogue, when the wind is heavy against you and you are being pushed backwards you fly the para anchor off the bow and it locks you into the water and slows negative progress. Only problem is if the current is going the wrong way too you get locked in that and there's nothing you can do. It's always a bumpy ride on the PA as you are head on to the weather.

[@RohitManokaran]

Any way to measure what percentage of distance covered was due to rowing vs what was due to wind and currents?

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi Rohit, no way to do that, you obviously can't row into the weather and there are lots of other factors, on a trade winds route like the Atlantic you get a little more help, on the Pacific I rowed across the trade winds so got less help north of the equator, south of the equator the trades are SE when you need to go SW so they try and push you north. I can tell you II went back 500km crossing the equator which was due to wind and currents, that was tough to take.

[@freakazoidvienna]

interesting rowing style

[@soloatlanticrower]

Your rowing technique has to adapt to the conditions, from full on sculling in calmer weather to hours of single oar pulling in cross weather situations. In choppy conditions when the water is never the same port and starboard I found it easier to row hand over hand with the blades entering the water slightly out of sink.

[@armandoalemanjuarez5646]

¡Wooow!

[@mausplan3890]

how did you manage water and food.

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi Geoff, deliminator for water, half dehydrated meals and half biscuits, chocolate, energy bars etc.

[@dstubeaudio986]

You are an incredible person with an incredible story to tell. Just a critique on the video production. Loose the background music. The music is very distracting. I want to hear you and the ocean waves. The music makes the video sounds like an infomercial.

[@soloatlanticrower]

Thanks. I've always said I am a rower not a film maker so apologies. I might get round to remaking the stories in a more documentary way at some point. Life's pretty full though at the moment.

[@sinkorswim1964]

How do you get your boat to the start and back home, is it flown ?

[@soloatlanticrower]

In a shiping container.

[@myhanslombard]

55;04 wow

[@myhanslombard]

no 56:03

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

i can deduce that this journey took place either 2019 or 2020; however, the available info does not allow for knowing the precise year, unfortunately.

[@soloatlanticrower]

2015

[@richardturner9755]

Anyone know anything about his rowing technique

[@soloatlanticrower]

Hi Richard, what did you want to know? my technique changed to suit the conditions, calm weather allowed me to scull, choppy conditions hand over hand with just one blade in at a time, wind blowing you off course one armed rowing for hours.

[@viewunknwn]

What did you eat?

[@soloatlanticrower]

mainly dehydrated food, energy bars and cookies.

[@edm9704]

I suggest you do not use background music.

[@vinnienoname4853]

I guess he can do what he wants after that feat

[@Rokzug]

Man any chance you can upload this without the cringy epic free music used on litterally every youtube video on repeat? x) It would actually be better without music. No joke.

[@soloatlanticrower]

Appreciate the feedback Rokzug, I am using less and different music on newer video's, these are early efforts and I've said many times I'm a rower not a film maker, I only really posted for family and friends so as the interest has grown I'm trying to hone my editing skills. Just a note, it wasn't actually free, sucker that I probably am I paid a small fee for the music, probably why I thought I'd use it so much!

[@Rokzug]

@@soloatlanticrower Appreciate the reply! :) I think you have the makings of a super fascinating 'show' here even. I'm surprised it wasn't free - it sounds so similar to those facebook videos with a clickbait of "you cant believe what just..." xD Less is more when it comes to the audio and soundtrack for these kinds of video. The soundscape of the ocean - water, wind and weather gives a more epic effect really ^^ Though some audio cleanup may be needed. Expect a lot of views - the youtube algorithm has picked you haha. Sadly I can't really get past the music, but else super fascinating ^^ a survival trip that long on the ocean is quite fascinating. Coming right of the "I shouldn't be alive - surviving 76 days at sea" xD