GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - A 7000km journey begins with a single stroke for Cape Town paddler, Richard Kohler, who is due to depart from Granger Bay for Brazil, on 19 December, in his bid to become the first person to paddle solo and unsupported, by kayak, across the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
Kohler first attempted the crossing in December 2021 but had to make a detour to Walvis Bay after being out at sea for more than two weeks.
He is now ready to depart again and is currently looking for a weather window to leave Cape Town.
The departure date and time are currently Sunday, 18 December at 09:00.
The 53-year-old is the first person to attempt to paddle a custom kayak across the Southern Atlantic, unsupported and alone. He will be reunited with “Osiyeza” – his home for the next 60 to 80 days.
The aim is to survive the “Crossing” and not just to acquire bragging rights for the latest outlandish watersports adventure but to raise funds for charity, Operation Smile.
Sailing has always been in Kohler’s blood, beginning his journey at the age of six to later sailing at the international level, including sailing in the 2007 Americas Cup campaign for South Africa aboard the Shosholoza.
Travelling the equivalent of three times around the globe as a professional yachtsman, in 2012 Kohler became the first person to solo kayak around the entire South African coastline. Having been attacked by a shark during his last mission, had his kayak broken in half and all his equipment stolen.
