From Burnout to Barbados

At 29, I became the 9th solo, unsupported, and independent woman to successfully row across the Atlantic. It’s a fact that sounds huge and perhaps a little crazy, and it stands as a testament to human fortitude. But what you might not know is that the ocean adventure the “Ocean Survivoar Challenge” wasn’t just about the physical feat; it was the radical, necessary answer to a different, more silent challenge: burnout.

Before the solo row from Gran Canaria to Barbados, my life was a cycle of high-impact pursuits and abrupt rebuilding. Growing up in Herefordshire, my first passion was running, which led to injuries. My recovery introduced me to cycling, a sport that eventually took me to the Great Britain Cycling Team, competing on world-class stages. And then, injury struck again, forcing yet another fundamental rebuild.

I realised my true education was happening off the conventional map. My career journey became increasingly unconventional: from managing Alpine chalets to becoming a white-water rafting instructor in California, and then spending four years travelling the world as a deckhand on superyachts. These experiences going literally from the source of rivers to the vastness of the sea—gave me a unique understanding of navigating diverse, volatile environments. But even with all that adventure, in 2023, I hit a wall: burnout.

Burnout propelled me into a profound study of human performance, conscious leadership, and somatic practices. I needed to show the true potential of what the human mind and body could achieve. The Ocean Survivoar Challenge was the ultimate test—a way to apply all the knowledge, skills, and resources I had gained over the years, taking it all to the ocean.

The start and finish lines are simple Gran Canaria and Barbados, but it’s the part in-between those two land masses that tells the real story. My journey, whether it was on a race bike or a rowboat, has taught me that the ultimate driving force isn’t just courage; it is fortitude: the deep, quiet strength needed to expand human capacity when facing pivotal thresholds in life.

On this blog, I want to share the highs and the lows drawn from my extraordinary life, offering not just gripping stories but practical tools and an actionable framework that has proven successful. My core message is about putting power back into the pause amongst the chaos. It’s about seeking solitude in moments of change to ultimately resurface that unlimited potential that has sat silently within you.

My goal is to empower you to push off from the safety of the land, navigate your own highs and lows, and emerge stronger on the other side.

Welcome aboard.