Rowboat adventurers stay afloat through adversity

Two women who spent 16 hours clinging to their capsized rowboat in the stormy Atlantic Ocean shared their experiences at a Wednesday luncheon as the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce Inspire Program’s youngest speakers.

Sarah Kessans, 24, and Emily Kohl, 25, maintained an inspirational tone as they recounted the events of their ill-fated participation in 2005’s Woodvale Events Atlantic Rowing Race.

“We were looking for that finish line, but that was not our end goal,” Kessans said. “Our end goal was to inspire people, have fun and live our dream out there.”

Kessans and Kohl said they achieved those goals, despite the fact that they had to be rescued by a British tall ship after their 24-foot vessel flipped and flooded near the midpoint of their 3,000-mile nautical voyage from the Canary Islands to the West Indies, spending 16 hours adrift before being rescued.

The rowing duo made up the only American team out of 26 that had signed up to race. One of the youngest crews to participate, the pair also were one of just four all-female teams to compete.

The rowers smiled and cracked jokes as they told luncheon attendees about how they spent 45 days rotating rowing duties in two-hour shifts prior to the flooding of their boat.

Making their experiences relevant to their audience, they related the events of the race to situations that are common in the business world.

“You’re going to have days when you’re not getting much business, but you have to understand that there is going to be sunshine after that storm,” Kessans said.

Looking back on the race, Kessans said it may not have turned out exactly how she had intended, but it did bring her and her teammate closer and teach her a valuable lesson.

“Life is a journey, not a destination,” she said.

Kessans and Kohl’s presentation was organized as part of the Chamber’s Inspire Program, which hosts monthly luncheons for female professionals.

“Because of the determination, competitiveness and commitment that these girls have shown, we thought they were really inspiring,” said Kristi Hall, director of programs for the chamber.

“These are the youngest speakers we’ve ever had, and it is something a little different, but we just thought their story was so phenomenal that it would be of interest to professional women,” she added.

Today, Kessans is pursuing a doctoral degree in molecular biology at Arizona State University, where she coaches the novice women’s rowing team.

Kohl is pursing a master’s degree in clinical psychology at ASU, where she coaches the varsity women’s rowing team.

Both are graduates of Purdue University.

The two just received word that they have an opportunity to retry the voyage that they failed to complete in 2005. They seek to raise $50,000 in order to participate in December’s 2007 Woodvale Events Atlantic Rowing Race and they are accepting donations online at americanfirerowing.com.