Oliver Crane, a Rower on his Gap Year, Becomes Youngest Man to Row the Atlantic

Nineteen-year-old Oliver Crane is preparing to row 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic – which will make him the youngest person ever to row solo across any ocean.

Ollie is taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, billed as the world’s toughest row, not only to push himself while on his gap year but to raise funds for marine conservation.

The challenge, which starts in the Canary Islands and finishes in Antigua, will begin on December 12 and is expected to take around three months – meaning Ollie will be on his own for Christmas and New Year. He admits he will miss his family and friends, particularly at these times.

“I have enjoyed scuba diving since I was 10 and have seen first-hand the devastation that climate change, over-fishing and garbage pollution have already wreaked on the ocean. It was a dream come true to go to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia but the part I saw was a let-down. There was horrific damage. It ignited my passion for ocean conservation.

“I thought this challenge was a good way to combine the two, so I’m raising money for Oceana, the largest charity in the world focused solely on ocean conservation. It works with governments to pass laws that protect ocean environments and sustainable fisheries.”

Ollie found out about the annual Atlantic event after looking online for difficult challenges. “It’s a tradition in my family to take on a project before university,” said Ollie, who will be going to Princeton University to study politics. He has four siblings – three older and one younger – and their achievements include climbing Mount Everest, cycling across Africa and hiking from Mexico to Canada.

The two-year-old boat that Ollie has bought, the SS4, was custom-built for ocean rowing. It has a solar-powered water-maker and is designed to right itself if it capsizes. It doesn’t have a toilet; Ollie will have to use a bucket. The boat completed the Atlantic crossing last year with a pair of rowers from Devon.

Ollie said: “After the race I will take it to schools and yacht clubs in the US and talk about the challenge and ocean conservation. Then I’ll sell it on. You can find out more about Oliver’s quest and make donations through his website.

This article excerpted from Devon Live where it was originally published October 6, 2017.

Update from February 2018:

HE DID IT!!

Coming ashore on the island of Antigua, 44 days after he left the Canary Islands, he not only set a record, he raised $60,000 for charity.

As for adventures along the way, he battled serious seasickness, deep loneliness, storms, his boat capsizing (more than once!) and a miracle boat full of passengers singing him carols on Christmas day.

He plans to enter Princeton in the fall and hopes to make their rowing team.

Read the full story here, and be sure to watch the NBC interview, it’s great!