Capetonian traveller Ryan Jacobs intends to become the first African person of colour to journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean on his own.
The 35-year-old Jacobs plans to break the Guinness World Record for the furthest distance rowed across the Atlantic which currently sits at 5030NM.
According to IOL, Jacobs got the go-ahead from the Guinness World Records to attempt to break the current record set by Erden Eruç from Turkey, who rowed alone across the Atlantic Ocean, for a distance of 9 314 km.
Jacobs said in an Instagram post that, “Every adventure I have been on has led me to this point. This is what I was born for. This is how I level up.
“How I achieve the greatest ambitions I have ever had. I want to see the limits of my own potential. I know the risks involved, I’ve certainly faced risk before,” the post read.
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Jacobs’ website indicated that he plans to depart Cape Town in November, December of 2022. The trip will see him row from Cape Town to the Caribbean, specifically Barbados.
He has already been to war as a photojournalist covering the conflict in both Libya and Syria, among many other stories. He has also climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, sailed the Atlantic Ocean, traversed continents and ranges and been to nearly 50 countries.
In the meantime, Jacobs has launched a fund-raising campaign to have his Epoxy Ocean-rowing boat built by yacht builder, Wayne Robertson. He plans to raise R500 000 for the boat alone.
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Picture: Instagram