Roz Savage dropped out of a corporate job to take on a record three oceans by rowboat.

by David Browne

This past October, 44-year-old Roz Savage became the first woman to row across three oceans. After conquering the Atlantic and Pacific, the former management consultant from Britain guided her 23-foot-long carbon-­fiber boat across the Indian Ocean in 154 soggy, strenuous days. We talked to her about the journey, her motivation, and what’s next.

What inspired you to make the voyages?
In 2004, the year after I was divorced, I was reading a book about the Hopi tribe, and I learned you have to take care of the Earth to take care of us. In London I was climbing the corporate ladder — on a material treadmill — and the idea popped into my head to row around the world using that as a platform for environmental missions. I rowed at Oxford, so I thought I could do it.

What was the scariest moment?
I was sitting sideways on the cabin and a wave hit. I shot across the boat headfirst into the opposite wall. I felt the impact run down my spine and explode around chest level and back. It was painful for weeks afterward. After that, I braced every time I felt a big wave.

What other challenges were there?
Two of my wooden oars broke when the boat capsized, and leaky lockers spoiled some of my food. Pirates were a concern because I didn’t bring anything to protect myself. Firearms aren’t my style.

How do you keep mentally alert during months at sea?
I was hooked on audio books — I took 78 of them on the Indian Ocean. I listened to the Keith Richards auto­biography read by Johnny Depp. I was transported. I enjoyed Rob Lowe’s book [Stories I Only Tell My Friends] even more. I was surprised how much I enjoyed that.

What’s next?
Next year, I’m ­organizing a circumnavigation of Britain by kayak and bicycle to encourage towns to ban plastic bags. And I have ambitions to go to the north and south poles.