50m 50m
20/min
(knees as
support)
35/min
(toes as
support)
20/min
20/min
40/min
40/min
2,000m 2,200m
Swimming
Press-up
10kg Weight
Squats
Sit-up
Rowing
spiration. Knowledge.
Perseverance. And finally,
Achievement.
A small group of adventure
neophytes took up their oars in early
2015 to tackle a huge task – rowing along
the South China coast from Shantou to
Hong Kong. Braving the open seas’ rough
waters and massive commercial ships
that dwarfed their rowing vessels, 20
undergraduate students from Shantou
University (STU) set out on 11 February
2017 and persevered to arrive in triumph
at the pier in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, on
19 February. They were exhausted, but
glowing with the pride of accomplishment
as the people of Hong Kong came out to
welcome them.
START IGNORANT AND BRAVE,
FINISH SMART AND STRONG
To be clear: the 20 students who took on
this huge task had no experience in rowing,
ocean navigation or survival skills. Over
260 applicants took up the call to apply,
but only 20 were chosen. Attitude and
physical fitness were the main qualifiers
as the plan was to begin training from level
zero. They did not know how to row, steer
or complete even the simplest of tasks
known to a beginner rower. But they had
heart and took on the training with gusto.
In 2015, a phone rang in the Burnham-
on-Crouch (England) office of Rannoch
Adventure. The founder, Charlie Pitcher,
took the call that would see him cross
the world a number of times over the
A
To be clear: the 20 students
who took on this huge task had
no experience in rowing, ocean
navigation or survival skills.
SPHERE
#42
2017
21
MAKING THE GRADE
>>
Strong hearts – and dedicated training —
are needed to face big waves on the high seas.
