Battling the Oceans in a Rowboat: Crossing the Atlantic and North Pacific on Oars and Grit

by Mick Dawson

The heart-pounding story of rowing expert Mick Dawson's most challenging feats on the open water, culminating in his greatest crossing the North Pacific Ocean in a small rowboat.
Storms, fatigue, equipment failure, intense hunger, and lack of water are just a few of the challenges that ocean rower MICK DAWSON, endured whilst attempting to complete one of the World's "Last Great Firsts."
In this nail-biting, man-against-nature true story, Dawson, former Royal Marine Commando, Guinness world record ocean rower and high seas adventurer, takes on the Atlantic and ultimately the North Pacific Oceans.
It would require three attempts and a back breaking voyage of over six months to finally cross the mighty North Pacific for the first time. 189 days, 10 hours and 55 minutes rowing around the clock, fighting death and destruction every step of the way before finally arriving beneath the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge with his friend and rowing partner Chris Martin.
Dawson details his epic adventures propelling his tiny boat one stroke at a time for thousands of miles across the most hostile route of the greatest ocean on earth, overcoming failure, personal tragedy and all of the challenges mother nature could throw at him.

Genres: Adventure, Sports

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2017

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing this title may make the reader wonder how in the world can any person row across the entire ocean in a rowboat. This book by former Royal Marine Mick Dawson explains just how – and he has done it more than once. It should be noted that early in the book, Dawson explains that this is a specially designed rowboat – it is not the type that one typically sees on a lake or pond.

Encountering practically every type of peril that one can encounter in the open sea, Dawson writes about his adventures in a specially designed rowboat with equal parts humor and melancholy. It is especially poignant when he writes about family, especially when his father passed away.

However, that is not the main emotion will take away from the book as Dawson’s courage and endurance in his expeditions. The first attempt that Dawson attempted at rowing across the Pacific Ocean in 2004 is described in the beginning of the book and the reader will instantly be sucked into the adventure. Then future attempts, until he is finally successful in this quest, are covered in as exquisite detail as the first. There are some slow sections of the book when Dawson writes about things such as the repairs made to the boat before a race from San Juan or about his time in the Royal Marines, but they don’t detract from the adventure the reader will take along with Dawson.

This book is a decent read and recommended for readers who like to read about adventure in the high seas. I wish to thank Center Street for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

One former Royal Marine's dedicated quest to cross both major oceans on a specially-designed rowboat. Mick's voyage across the Atlantic, partnering with his brother (also a retired Marine) as part of a mismanaged race fleet, is an impressive feat on its own merit, but pales in comparison to his repeated efforts to cross the treacherous North Pacific. That trip, the first of its kind, took three attempts, several near-disasters, and more than six straight months at sea. Truly a monument to strength, stamina and determination, not to mention a healthy dose of luck. Dawson skimps on the establishing shots and takes us directly into the meat of his story, detailing the little irritations and chance encounters that one might not understand nor expect from such an attempt. Adrift in the midst of a great liquid desert, he rubs up against curious whales and malevolent serpents, narrowly avoids great, sleepy cargo ships and struggles to make food rations last the duration of an uncertain trip. Interesting, straightforward and matter-of-fact, it reads like an extra-long article from an adventure digest.

[Nancy Seamons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling story about one man's desire to sail a rowboat across the Pacific Ocean and the difficulties he encountered and how he accomplished his goal.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! Loved the adventure, the courage, the emotion, the life lessons.

[Lisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. Unbelievable physical and mental efforts, huge risks and challenges, and frequently terrifying conditions. It’s really well written and structured in an interesting way moving around his various journeys in a way that flows rather than just a diary style.