Stop Drifting, Start Rowing A Book Review

Reading this book, Stop Drifting, Start Rowing, has been my first exposure and introduction to Roz Savage, the author. Besides writing this particular book about her 2007 - 2010 solo rowing expedition across the Pacific Ocean, she previously took on and successfully solo rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2005 as well as a solo rowing adventure across the Indian Ocean. 

Roz Savage is a passionate environmentalist, public speaker and book author. She wrote a book prior to this one entitled, Rowing The Atlantic, Lessons Learned On The Open Ocean.

As I read, Stop Drifting, Start Rowing, a handful of descriptive phrases arose in my mind that I would employ to describe Roz Savage.  Among them were single-minded determination, tenacity, focus, courage, discipline and resolve.

How many of us, would have the vision and daring to set out upon a quest to row across any of our world’s oceans by themselves in just a 23 foot long rowboat? 

Setting out on such a  challenge also involves a substantial number of behind-the-scenes sponsors, suppliers, weather forecasters, technical and medical consultants, the US Coast Guard, and the maritime authorities in other world nations.

Roz Savages’ account of her rowing expedition across the expanse of the Pacific Ocean is an amazing one indeed. The details of her journey are educational, compelling, and downright scary at times. 

Imagine being caught in a storm or squall at sea in the middle of a black night, having yourself lashed into your sleeping bag, then having your boat capsize. Not just once, but multiple times during the night? How many of us would be able to keep calm and focused? Would any of us ever get accustomed to that kind of situation? Or how about getting caught fighting your way rowing against a prevailing ocean current that pulls you in the opposite direction, for days at a time? Then there are  the days of sweltering heat at sea under an unforgiving sun with times where your water supply is running low due to a malfunctioning water maker.

While navigating the open Pacific, Roz documented what she observed on her odyssey in terms of marine aquatic and avian life. She also reports about  environmental issues such as the shocking floating  trash heap, known as the Great  Pacific Garbage Patch, a Texas-sized collection of human manufactured trash, and the shocking decline in the oceans’ fish populations due to irresponsible over fishing.

Roz Savage’s narrative of her journey along with her intermittent blog entries make this book a rewarding read. I learned a lot about the world’s oceans from what Roz shares as well as the beauty, majesty and awesome power of Mother Nature on the high seas.

For more information about this courageous author, visit her web site at www.rozsavage.com

I loved the simple quote from Roz that she offers in this book. It is, “You have one life. Live it.”

Jeff Dodson

December 2nd 2013

FTC Disclosure:  I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are unbiased and reflect my honest judgment of the product.