Alone: The First Australian Women to Row the Atlantic Ocean

by Michelle Lee

68 days, 12 hours, 49 minutes. In 2018 Michelle Lee became the first Australian woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. It took two years of preparation for the 68-day, 5,000km journey—Solo details this extraordinary adventure from her perspective. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean is never an easy undertaking, but people have been making the journey for hundreds of years. The very first crossings were made to discover and explore new lands. Today, most crossings are made by huge cargo ships exporting essential commodities across the ocean. But some daring people choose to cross the Atlantic to test the limit of their physical and mental strength—to achieve something unthinkable. Each year in December, waiting for an end to the hurricane season, rowers depart from La Gomera, Spain and arrive in Antigua, in the Caribbean. No motor, no sails—a journey powered only by rowing. It was from this port that Michelle sailed into the history books, achieving what few have before her and marking the start of a new chapter in her life encouraging others to live without regret and not die wondering.

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2023

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I notice another reviewer has found errors and I totally agree, I also found errors. Nor was I fond of some of the language used. The second half of the book is far more interesting to me than the first half. This half focuses more on the venture itself and the mental attributes necessary. It is noteworthy that the author was part of a well organised safety conscious race and not a sole venturer who may have needed extensive effects by others to rescue her. She does not put herself forward as an accomplished author but as an accomplished athlete and in my view that is how her achievement should be viewed.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could only get through a few chapters before I gave up. The amount of spelling, grammar and punctuation errors was too much. At one point it said “maybe include the date”. So I’m not sure if I got a copy that wasn’t final or if the editor just didn’t care enough about this book to correct.

[Katie deHaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the book I read wasn’t Solo but: KIKO - How to break the Atlantic rowing record after rain surgery. By Kiko Matthews. Great story about young women against amazing odds. She hopes her story will inspire people to realise you can do pretty well anything you want if you try. Extra special for me is that Kiko has Cushing Disease and had brain surgery behind her. Having Cushing Syndrome myself, the adrenal type, I can relate to her story in more ways than one although I must say I don’t relate to the seagoing side of it. Her challenge raised a lot of money for the hospital that saved her life. Beyond that, the book is beautifully designed and executed. I’d have liked it digital but I’m glad I have it paper now. Go Kiko on any and all the challenges you take in life. Inspirational!