Where Roz is now.

This blog was dictated by Roz and transcribed by her mother, Rita Savage.
Local time 21.32 on 5th May
Position: 02.70939S 161.71414E
I’d like to tell you about my master plan for a foundation, provisionally called The Ripple Effect. This is what we are currently fundraising for, so I hope everything will make a bit more sense after this blog of introduction.
This idea was born about 15 months ago, soon after Nicole came to work with me, and she and I have discussed it at length. At the moment it is still a pipe dream, but, hey, you have to dream something before you can make it real.
The inspiration for The Ripple Effect came from noticing the power of individuals to inspire, no matter what their field of expertise: a dancer, a speaker, a musician, an artist, a scientist, a thinker, an athlete. Any one of these can make me feel inspired, to see that anything is possible, to see that the world is ripe with potential
As a rising tide lifts a boat so when one person lives out the thing they were born to do the ripples of inspiration spread far and wide and lift everybody up to a higher plane.
Having stumbled onto something that others find inspiring and having figured a few things out along the way, about how to bring a future dream to fruition, I felt that this was a way that I could contribute to making the world a better place, even once my rowing days are over. I could nurture a future generation of individuals with the power to spread ripples of inspiration by providing them with support, logistical assistance, mentoring and a degree of financial support.
Grantees would have to show that they have a particular mission that they wish to pursue and would pledge to share their experience as they go about fulfilling that mission. This sharing would provide a kind of “how to” for other people wanting to achieve something similar, and of course, maximize those ripples of inspiration.
In other words, The Ripple Effect would be exactly the kind of foundation that I wish had existed 6 years ago when I decided to start rowing across oceans to promote a message of environment awareness and personal fulfillment. I have managed to muddle my way through by trial and error, but I would have loved to find a one-stop shop for advice on everything from fund-raising to website design, and a cash grant would have been a welcome bonus.
Over the last couple of years, I have been informally mentoring a few individuals who aspired to change their lives and/or embark on ambitious adventures. I have really enjoyed doing this and I hope that in the future I will have more time to work with such dynamic and purposeful people from the infrastructure to assist them more effectively
And of course I hope that the infrastrucutre will also benefit me to some extent as I pass through these final stages of my ocean rowing career and to other ways of communicating my message.
So there we have it. My grand plan. It is very unusual in that the concept is person-based rather than cause-based but it tallies with my belief in the power of the individual to make a difference.
If you have enjoyed following my adventures whether it be since the Atlantic in 2005 or since yesterday I hope my description of The Ripple Effect resonates with you, and if it does, I hope you will feel that can make a contribution no matter how small. The current fundraising drive is being organized by Nova Lee. She is creating a series of contests and sweepstakes to the “fun” into fundraising. Watch out on this blog for messages from Nova about new challenges and events over the coming weeks. To check out on events already under way, click on the GoRozGo button on the top right of my website and of course a huge thank you to all of you who have already contributed.

Thanks to recent donors: Kenny, Stanley Miller, Doug Grandt, Sam Miller, James van Remmel, Carol Lindsay, Ferit Findik, Cornerstone Fibres and Pauline Appleby.

Dr Sylvia Earle is a legend in the world of marine biology and conservation, respected and revered and affectionately known as “Her Royal Deepness”. But does she make her case in this speech at TED? I was fascinated not only by the presentation, but also by some of the comments beneath. If even the most distinguished underwater explorer in the US cannot convincingly argue that the ocean is essential to the health of the planet, then where did she go wrong – if, indeed, she did? Or are the doubters the kind of people who would doubt anything?

Next month I will be taking part in a panel discussion at the Blue Vision Summit in Washington DC, alongside Sylvia Earle and Philippe Cousteau, among others. The topic will be how we can communicate so as to make people care about what is happening in the oceans. What will make them sit up and take notice?

Rising temperatures?
Rising oceans?
Population displacement?
No more seafood?
Extinction of species?

I would really welcome comments on this blog, if you can give me any suggestions as to what is most likely to increase knowledge and motivate action. My perception is that education is not the way. There is plenty of information available if people are interested. But most of them are not interested, because the oceans are not perceived as relevant.

Yet all life on earth – including ours – depends on the oceans. How to convey this? And then, once they care, what should people DO?

I have my own ideas, of course, but I would welcome input from all quarters so I can better gauge public opinion and the view of the man on the street. Help me out here – and help me to help the oceans!

Other stuff:

This weekend I made four presentations to around 600 people during the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival. The photograph shows me at the Opening Night Gala at the Aquarium of the Bay, indulging in two of my favourite activities – admiring underwater sealife and drinking champagne – not easily combined under usual circumstances, the scuba regulator with inbuilt champagne straw not yet having been invented.

Today I finished the final, final, final round of edits to the manuscript of my book about the Atlantic row. Despite my initial opposition, I have been persuaded to acquiesce to the wishes of my publisher and accept the title “Rowing The Atlantic”. It was certainly not my first choice, but I guess I have to pick my battles. Thank you to all who contributed to the long list of fascinating alternatives. A few will make appearances as chapter headings.

The book is due to be published by Simon & Schuster in early October. Hopefully we will be setting up a facility for you to reserve your signed copy. And look out for details of the book tour.

Work continues on the Brocade in Hawaii. Scott has been making good progress, with a view to having the boat almost shipshape by the time I return in April. Thank you Scott!

Nicole and I are currently in San Francisco, working hard and meeting lots of people in connection with PR, fundraising, media, speaking engagements, films and books. We are investigating the logistics of setting up a foundation – tentatively called The Ripple Effect. If anybody is or knows a California-based lawyer or accountant specializing in nonprofits, who might be willing to work pro bono, please let us know!