Actuary Jean-Guy Sauriol is planning to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean in November. If he completes the journey successfully, Sauriol, 59, will become the third—and oldest—Canadian to do that.
Sauriol, who is the president of seclonLogic inc., is scheduled to leave for Barbados from the Canary Islands on November 23, with 3,000 miles of open ocean ahead of him. Sauriol aims to complete the venture in record time for a Canadian solo rower.
“I was inspired by the story, ‘Alone At Sea,’ by Hannes Lindemann, and the story of Katie Spotz, the youngest person to cross the Atlantic,” says Sauriol. “It gave me the motivation I needed to start this expedition.”
The unassisted crossing should take 60 to 90 days, depending on weather conditions. Sauriol plans to row 12 hours a day, using approximately one million strokes.
Suariol will have Internet access while on his expedition, so he intends to take photos and blog on his website about the experience.
He will be rowing to raise money for charities benefiting Canadian youth—Breakfast Club of Canada, The Actuarial Foundation of Canada and the Children’s Breakfast Club of East Northumberland Secondary School.