Sarah Outen is a British adventurer best known for being the first woman and the youngest person ever to row solo across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Alaska.
Not only that, but she has realised a number of books (my personal favourite is Dare to Do) about her epic journeys, and is a huge inspiration to many across the globe.
Frankly, I am absolutely chuffed to be sharing this very brief interview with you.
Firstly, you have spent an awfully long time at sea, with very little contact to the outside world. How do you deal with loneliness during these expeditions?
I always used to consider that I was never really lonely but more recently I think I realise that I was at times lonely but just didn’t acknowledge it. I loved the solitude and space of life at sea and my connection to the animals and universe around me. The connections to home and loved ones was strong, just in a different way to being alongside people physically.
I went to boarding school when I was eight for a few years and so I have always been used to being very independent – both useful and also, I recently realised, not so useful.
Interdependence is best. During the last year of my London2London journey I felt the pang and pull of missing lots of weddings of friends and even my brother. I knew it was time to be home.
Could you tell me more about these internal struggles, and what you did to overcome them?
I really struggled after being rescued from the Pacific in 2012 and part of that struggle was due to my inability to be open about my pain and ask for help.
I think I would have found it easier had I seen other examples of people struggling and reaching out, so once I was able to connect to that part of me and connect with others I was really keen to make sure I shared my vulnerabilities and struggles in the hope that it would help others.
I think rather than overcoming the struggles it was more about riding them, flowing with them and supporting and nourishing myself to recover. Learning about what was going on for me physiologically was really useful and still is – I am fascinated by the effect of trauma and stress on our bodies and the healing power of connection and community in that space.
Exercise, sleep, craniosacral therapy, counselling, time outside, time with others – all of it was useful. I have had some further crashes in my mental health following the expedition in recent years, too and the learning continues – I imagine there will be more crashes in my future, too and I trust there will be more learning.
I have come to rest in the knowledge that healing is not linear, it is often messy but it is also open to us all with the right conditions, intention and care.
During your last big trip, you came to realise that you’re actually pansexual. How does it feel to be an adventurer in a primarily heterosexual male industry?
Sharing with the world that I was in love with Lucy and then engaged and then married was largely wonderful – I think I had one not-so-kind email from someone saying they didn’t want to follow a lesbian journey anymore, which I felt was their loss and not mine.
Again, I was keen to share through my journey, writing and our film ‘Home’ my journey with love and life with Lucy and what it was like to be away. Growing up life was very straight and cis and I really feel that younger versions of me missed out in exploring different ways of being through lack of role models, language and encouragement to explore sexuality and gender.
I wonder if what I am saying here is that the world is largely white cis heterosexual able-bodied and not just the adventure industry. What I love is that social media has given everyone a chance to have a platform, voice and share their stories – that’s where the power to change lies and I have a lot of faith that things, in time, can continue to change for the better.
Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to become a part of the exploration community?
Ellen MacArthur was an early hero of mine as a teenager. Already I was very aware of gender biases and the lack of coverage, support and opportunities open to women. So to see her kicking ass in the Vendée Globe was hugely inspiring and I knew then that one day I wanted a big sea journey.
I love, too, how she has changed tack since her racing days to work on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which is all about accelerating a change towards a Circular Economy – one in which products are designed for re-cycling, re-purposing into other products rather than a linear throwaway system. There is so much happening in that field.
As someone with Crohn’s Disease, I was wondering how you have dealt with health challenges on your expeditions?
I have worked closely with a nutritionist these last few years to help me heal my gut lining, rebalance my gut flora and over this last year support my journey through Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). Essentially the medical system had pumped me full of steroids and immune modulating drugs and had the view there was no other way and that it would only get worse.
I came across a fascinating and hard-hitting documentary called ‘Preventable’ by Briana Banos which showed me a way out, gruelling as it was. This was to go cold-turkey on all the medicated creams and pills to catalyse my body’s own healing process.
My skin cycled through red raw oozing to sloughing off in dry flakes which I would have to hoover up a few times a day, along with the most intense itching of my life, debilitating fatigue and pain which repeated for months, before easing and slowing in it’s flares.
I am still working to heal and support my skin and overall health but the progress has been so reassuring when I look back at it and where I have come from.
Finally, what’s next?
I am very excited that soon I will start work with my herd of donkeys, offering therapeutic coaching in Oxfordshire while also continuing training to become a psychotherapist.
One day I will write that children’s book I have been talking about forever…
What a great post about an inspiring person. Thanks for giving us an insight into this adventurers world.
Fantastic post! It is really interesting to hear how hard it was to admit when Sarah felt lonely, or even that she was in trouble and needed help! I feel like we all have moments like that, especially if you are working hard to achieve a specific goal/climb a mountain/complete an adventure. It makes me feel better than pros can have that blind spot too.
Going cold turkey from the topical steroids makes me wonder if I should try that too. I really rely on them to control bad skin at certain times of year…
Sarah is a very inspirational young woman. Doing what she loves most in a predominantly male field. All wile staying true to herself. Great interview.
This is such an inspiring story. So proud of her for overcoming all the challenges while embarking on her journey.
What a fascinating interview. The discussion around vulnerability and finding community when you need help is a great lesson that everyone can take away.
Such a great interview! I especially enjoyed her response in how she deals with loneliness. So beautiful and insightful!
What a great interview! So inspiring! Many challenges which are overcome. Well done Sarah!
Really interesting! I am unfamiliar with Sarah’s expeditions but they sound amazing. I will have to look up more of their story, so thanks for the introduction.
This is a fantastic intereview. I love how Sarah stayed true to the person she was and continued to pursue her dreams in all areas of her life, despite the many obstacles.
It was nice reading about Sarah Outen and her expeditions. It is so inspiring and gives a glimpse into her world.
That’s so awesome that you got to interview her! I’m going to have to add Dare to Do onto my ever-growing to-read list! She is such an inspiration!
What a detailed post about an inspiring traveler. Your questions are well crafted, Sarah answered them well and inspired me to stay true on our uniqueness and authenticity.
What an interesting and inspiring person! Thanks for introducing us to Sarah.
What an amazing person to follow, as a fulltime adventurer I loved reading this article!
Absolutely inspiring! Solo female travel embodies empowerment and the spirit of fearless exploration.