Here’s the amazing story of Katie Spotz, a 2008 graduate of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, as told by the New York Times:
This winter, Katie Spotz plans to cross the Atlantic Ocean without a sail or a motor. Through 50-foot waves and hurricane-force winds, the only thing propelling her tiny yellow boat will be Spotz’s arms pulling against two black oars.
In the small but growing sport of ocean rowing, even the smallest sail is considered cheating. So Spotz, 22, will row at least 2,500 miles without even a tarp to protect herself from the sun, lest she be tempted to use it to catch the wind.
“I never thought I could do something like this,” said Spotz, whose attempt will raise money for Blue Planet Run, a foundation that finances clean drinking water projects around the world.
The journey from Dakar, Senegal, on Africa’s west coast, to South America is expected to take between 70 and 100 days. If Spotz succeeds, she will become the youngest person to cross an ocean in a rowboat, and the first American to row solo from mainland to mainland.
Here’s a little more background on Katie, from loyal reader Ben at Warren Wilson College:
Katie Spotz, 2008 WWC grad, is about to embark on a solo row from Africa to South America in order to raise money for safe drinking water via Blue Planet Run Foundation. (http://rowforwater.com/) Katie’s first business plan to raise funds for this adventure started in a Warren Wilson business planning class taught by Janice Jackson, Ph.D., chair of the business and economics department.
It’s pretty incredible. I look forward to watching her story. Warren Wilson College grads never cease to amaze.