Durban pair’s 6 500km pedal boat trip

Durban-born Davey du Plessis endeavours to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a human-powered pedal boat along with his mother.

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Durban - Three years after surviving a horror attack while kayaking the Amazon River, Durban-born Davey du Plessis is scheduled to leave on a new adventure next week, endeavouring to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a human-powered pedal boat.

Du Plessis, 27, along with his 50-year-old mother, Robynne Wolff, plan to make the 6 500km journey – from Cape Town, where Du Plessis currently lives, to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – to raise awareness around the mass extinction of species caused by human development.

They were ready to leave last Friday but had to delay their departure because of the weather.

Du Plessis said, however, that they expected conditions to clear up within the next few days and that as soon as they did, the pair would be off.

If successful in their attempt, the pair could be in line to claim various titles, including first mother-and-son team and first mixed team to pedal across any ocean.

That said, it would not be an easy task.

Pedalling continent to continent, non-stop – for between three and six months – Du Plessis explained that consistency, rather than speed, was the key.

The pair was not planning on stopping at any islands along the way as, Davey said, the closer they got to land, the more dangerous pedalling became.

“As soon as you get close to land, you lose manoeuvrability and wave shapes start to change,” he said.

He and his mother would start out alternating four-hour shifts.

“Someone is going to be at those pedals at all times,” he said.

Time spent away from the pedals, would be used to pump water through the manual desalinator the pair had on board their custom-made, 7m-long, 2m-wide vessel; rest; keep in touch with loved ones using a satellite phone and prepare food. As far as food went, the pair’s diet would be largely coconut-based, Du Plessis – a raw vegan – said.

“We’re taking 200 coconuts with us,” he said.

This was due to the fruit’s long shelf life.

In addition, they were taking sprouting seeds – including mung beans, kidney beans, lentils and alfalfa – which they could grow at sea, Du Plessis said, as well as a small amount of dried food and fresh fruits, that were unripe and would ripen while they were at sea.

Du Plessis was shot several times while navigating the Amazon River in 2012.

After hours spent roaming the jungle, he came upon a community who helped him. Du Plessis was riddled with bullets and spent weeks recovering in the intensive care unit of a Peruvian hospital. His story is told in his book, ‘Choosing To Live’.

He was alone on that expedition and said he was looking forward to embarking on this one, with a partner.

“Travelling alone has its pros and cons, as does travelling with someone,” he said.

But he was looking forward to sharing this with his mother and to being able to look back on the experience with her, in years to come.

The Daily News will stay in touch with Du Plessis and Wolff during their time at sea and report on their progress.

Daily News

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