Lia bids for new row record and launches new film and book
30/03/2022
Determined adventurer Lia Ditton is preparing for a new solo world record bid – as well as launching a new film and working on a book.
Lia, who is sponsored by Wescom, is preparing for a North Atlantic Solo row ahead of another Pacific Ocean record bid to be the first person to row from Japan to San Francisco.
Lia explains, “My mission remains the same: to row from Japan to San Francisco (5,500 miles solo and unsupported) and become the first person – male or female – to row land-to-land across the Pacific Ocean.
“The next stage in the mission is Cape Cod to the Lizard UK, (2,500 miles solo and unsupported.) The North Atlantic solo will be a true half marathon test for North Pacific Solo. Only three women, all French-speaking, have rowed the North Atlantic versus 32 men.”
The bid follows Lia’s successful world record solo row from San Francisco to Hawaii, which is the subject of a new film, 87 DAYS – Alone Rowing the Pacific. Lia was equipped with Wescom flares for the challenge.
“Wescom’s flares kept me company on deck for the 87 days of my San Francisco-Hawaii row. As the brightest, most powerful survival pyrotechnics on the market, I was reassured to have them on board. Thankfully, I only ever used one handheld flare – in the final hour and celebration.”
The film tells how Lia completed the arduous challenge in 86 days, 10 hours, five minutes, and 56 seconds. The previous record was 99 days.
As we reported in a previous Illuminator, early in the crossing, her boat capsized in the dark, forced over by a rogue wave, but Lia managed to correct it and get back inside. She also struggled against strong winds, waves, and currents. Lia also heard the tragic news that rower Angela Madsen had died on 22 June while rowing to Hawaii.
She wrote on her RowLiaRow blog, “I expected to take you on a record attempt, a journey of endless visual beauty across the South Pacific. Instead, it’s been a voyage of emotions: a battle of mastery over mind and mind over trauma.”
Lia is also writing a new book, whose subject is yet to be revealed.
