L2L in Numbers
- 2 solo ocean rows
- 3 continents by bike
- 300 nautical miles by kayak
- 20,000 miles
- 850 days away
- 14 countries
- Up to 11 months at sea alone
- A few world records
- One little tent
- 6,000 calories a day
- Adventures galore
- Thousands of children inspired
- Thousands raised for charities
About London2London: Via the World
The London2London: Via the World expedition sees British adventurer Sarah Outen, use only human power to complete a continuous loop of the world.
Sarah set off on the 1st April 2011 from London’s Tower Bridge and will cycle 16,000 miles, row solo across 7,500 nautical miles of ocean and kayak 300 nautical miles before arriving back at Tower Bridge.
The journey will take her across two oceans, three continents and 14 countries.
Sarah says:
“I love the challenge, the battles, the intimacy with nature and the perspective gained from travelling so close to the water, the landscape, the wildlife. I love the purity of knowing that when you are alone, the immediate responsibility lies on your shoulders and yours alone. I do have a team at home and at certain times some in-location support, but mostly it is just me. It’s a wonderful mix of excitement, fear and unknowns.
Even though I journey solo for the most part, it is not just my journey. I love sharing my adventures, especially with children, and hope that it inspires them to look outwards to the world and learn; and to look inwards to themselves and their own dreams and goals. I am journeying for everyone I have met along the way too and for those who have helped me get this far.”
The Mission – the story so far
World-renowned explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes says of Sarah and her London2London expedition:
“Sarah will face dangers on a daily basis, which only the hardiest could tolerate. But I’m sure she will succeed and confirm that she is an adventurer and expeditioner second to none.”
- THE STARTING LINE: On 1st April, 2011, Sarah set off on her London2London expedition from London’s Tower Bridge and in her kayak, Nelson travelled down the Thames and across the English Channel to France. She was accompanied by sea-kayaking team-mate Justine Curgenven.
- THE FIRST LEG ON HERCULES: She then jumped on her bicycle, Hercules, and cycled over 10,000 miles through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and then back into Russia’s wild Far East.
- A TRICKY CROSSING TO JAPAN: Sarah then used Nelson and Hercules to paddle and cycle her way over 1,000 miles to Japan via the remote island of Sakhalin. She was accompanied by renowned paddler Justine Curgenven for this leg.
- NORTH PACIFIC: Chapter 1: On 13th May, 2012 Sarah set off on her record-breaking solo row the 4,500 miles from Japan to Canada across the mighty North Pacific. But after 25 days at sea, Sarah and her boat, Gulliver were hit by Tropical Storm Mawar. The damage Gulliver sustained as a result meant that it was not possible to continue the row and Sarah was rescued by the Japan Coast Guard. Shortly afterwards she flew home to the UK.
- RECOVERY & REBUILDING: Sarah has spent nine months focusing on the difficult task of preparing mentally and physically to return to Japan and try once again to row solo across the North Pacific. She has also built a strong team around her and most importantly has a new boat – Happy Socks, sister boat to Gulliver and with specially adapted features based on what she learnt while out on the Pacific. She has had a mountain to climb, but she is now ready to go again.
- THE JOURNEY AHEAD: Following the gruelling Pacific row which we expect will take around six months, Sarah will take up Hercules’ saddle once again and cycle 3,000 miles from Vancouver to Nova Scotia through the winter. The final major leg will see Sarah rowing home to the UK across nearly 3,000 nautical miles of the North Atlantic Ocean before making her way back to Tower Bridge. ETA Autumn 2014.
No-one has ever rowed this combination of the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans in a single journey, solo or otherwise.
Dame Ellen MacArthur says of Sarah and her expedition:
“When I first met her, I knew that Sarah was a very special person with fire in her belly. I wish her good luck for London2London: Via the World, I think it’s a fantastic project particularly working with young people to inspire them and to teach them all about her journeys.”
If you’d like to find out more about the expedition and to follow Sarah’s progress, have a look at the sections below for all you need to know:
With Sarah’s Journey Tracker you can follow exactly where she is on her expedition.
London2London: Via the World is all about human power. Sarah’s travelling companions are Nelson the kayak, Hercules the bike and Happy Socks the rowing boat. Her original rowing boat, Gulliver, had to be left at sea in 2012.
Here you’ll find all the big numbers you could possibly want to know about the expedition.
