After weeks on standby, Blue Ambassador Sarah Outen has finally got the weather window she has been waiting for and will set off from Choshi, Japan on Sunday 13th May at 7am lcoal time (2300hrs GMT on Saturday 12th May) to row solo across the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver, Canada.
Sarah will launch Gulliver, her tiny 24ft long purposely designed and built ocean rowing boat tomorrow afternoon and once she has stamped out of the country (again) and stocked up on fresh fruit from the supermarket, she will be good to go.
Sarah comments on her impending departure: “One last visit to the onsen for a hot bath and back to the hotel for an early night. I expect sleep will be light and restless as my mind races and the butterflies charge about in my tummy. They are already there now, having returned once Lee and I confirmed departure earlier today. They can stay though – they will keep me safe and alert and, I hope, will fuel me through the big push out to the Kuroshio current. Once we are safely ‘in’ it, we shall gain some ‘free’ mileage as it transports us away from land and out into the ocean.”
Sarah’s departure on Sunday will be streamed live over the internet, so for those of you unable to bid farewell to Sarah in person then worry not: you can watch a live stream by clicking on this link. Sarah’s team will be broadcasting from 0645 JST or for those of you in the UK it will be 2245 on Saturday night.
Sarah will be tweeting, blogging and phonecasting throughout the journey, so you will be able to share in all the dramas and excitement and frustrations. For more information or to track Sarah’s progress across the Pacific Ocean, please visit Sarah’s website at www.sarahouten.com.
