Elin Haf Davies came up with the idea of rowing the Atlantic Ocean when she was at what seemed like a low point in her life.

WHEN SHE lost her place in the Welsh ladies rugby team and at the same time her marriage came to an end Elin Haf Davies found her life at a crossroads. She summoned all her courage and set herself the challenge of a lifetime – to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Elin was working as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and took on and completed the challenge with a colleague. They raised money for the hospital and specifically for children with rare metabolic diseases. The row gave Elin the determination to go on and complete similar challenges on the Indian and Pacific oceans while again raising money for extremely worthwhile causes.

We were delighted when Elin took the time to talk to us in more detail about her challenges as well her work with and passion for children. Read on to find out about her book as well as the exciting plans Elin has for the year ahead. If Elin’s rowing achievements aren’t enough to inspire you then her passion for life and humble view of the world surely will be.

Tell us about where your passion for adventure and sport stemmed from and how this led to you representing Wales at rugby?

Unfortunately I was actually 19 when I discovered sport and rugby. I was living in London and missing Wales, so I joined London Welsh Rugby Club to have a Welsh connection. And then I became a bit of an addict! 

After the disappointment of being dropped from the Welsh rugby team and your marriage ending in divorce how long was it before you came up with the idea to row across the Atlantic Ocean?

Within six months of leaving my husband I knew I had to focus my mind on something, and soon after the idea to row across the Atlantic hit me. I guess I really needed something to focus my emotions and energies into – and it was cheaper than therapy! 

Who was the person you persuaded to take on the challenge with you and how easy was it to do this?

It was actually really hard to find someone willing to join me for the adventure. Eventually I persuaded Herdip Sidhu, a fellow children’s nurses at Great Ormond St Hospital, and we launched our ‘Nautical Nurses’ campaign.

Tell us about some of the highs and low of your 77-day row? 

There are too many to mention. Your emotions swing from one extreme to another within a few minutes out on the ocean. One minute you can be high on life, surfing down waves, sun shinning and dolphins swimming around you. The next you can be battered by waves with winds blowing you backwards faster than you can row forward and you have to watch as all your hard earned miles disappear. 

Being children’s nurses really allows you to keep everything in perspective though. I love sport and adventures so much, but sometimes I get frustrated when the challenges and success sport brings are not kept in context with what’s happening in the world around us. 

A sailor setting off to see to race around the world is seen as a courageous hero. Refugees jumping into unworthy boats desperately trying to save their lives are the courageous heroes in my book. Likewise, no amount of suffering we endured on a row compares to what children with life-limiting, life-threatenting disorders go through. We chose to put ourselves on that boat, children don’t choose to be ill any more than refugees choose to be escaping for for their life.

Elin pictured on her row across the Atlantic.

How did the row affect you mentally and how did it take its toll on your body physically?

The row has completely changed my mental focus, in that now I believe that anything is possible with handwork and focus. Physically I felt remarkably healthy at the end of each row. Although having lost a lot of muscle mass in my legs meant that even walking up the stairs left me completely breathless, and I was pretty wobbly with mal de tere for a few days after landing.

A burnt back was one of the physical effects the row had on Elin and her body.

How hard was it sharing your boat and such a small amount of space with someone else 24-7?

The Atlantic with just one other person for all that time is rather intense. You’re not away from each other for one single moment. It obviously puts a high strain on any relationship, but also means that you have a very high level of respect for each other and what you’ve experienced together. 

Your work as a children’s nurse gave you the idea to raise money for much needed research. Could you tell us more about this as well as the amount you raised?

Both myself and fellow rower Herdip Sidhu were children’s nurses at Great Ormond St Hospital. We had both seen first hand how children with rare metabolic diseases suffer and how difficult it is to raise awareness and money for such disorders. In the end we raised a phenomenal amount for the cause which we were both very proud of.  

Tell us a little about your rows across the Indian and sail across the Pacific oceans and how these experiences differed to your experience of the Atlantic Ocean row and what these were in aid of?

The Indian row was a phenomenal experience. I was part of an all female four crew – the first to row across the Indian. We had such a great adventure, set two world records and raised £26K for Breast Cancer Care. The sail across the Pacific was completely different. I had to learn how to sail and I was part of a crew of 17, men and women from all different ages and nationalities.

What can our readers expect from your books and where can they purchase them?

A very personal and private account of the Atlantic and Indian adventure – including all the gory details. You can buy my book via www.gwales.com or by contacting me directly if you’d like a signed copy.

What are you currently doing in life and what exciting projects or challenges do you have planned for the year ahead and beyond?

Two years ago I founded a digital health company, www.aparito.com,  to provide easy, pain free solutions to monitor children’s health at home without needing so many hospital visits / tests. It’s a real test of endurance to grow the company, but I feel passionate about the need to develop this. On a personal level I will always need an ocean crossing every 12 to 18 months to keep me sane! My husband and I are now planning for the Rolex Fastnet race Aug this year and the Transat Jacques Vabre in November of this year. 

To find out more about Elin and how you can hire her as a speaker visit www.elinhafdavies.co.uk.